Scenic Hudson Helps Expand Popular State Park

Protecting new areas surrounding Fishkill Ridge for public enjoyment is part of Scenic Hudson's campaign to "save the land that matters most" in the Hudson Valley.

On Thursday, Jan. 24, Scenic Hudson joined officials from New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and the City of Beacon in announcing the permanent protection of over 1,300 acres of land along the Fishkill Ridge. These lands will be added to the 6,000 acre Hudson Highlands State Park.

More than half of this land was protected with Scenic Hudson's assistance: 639 acres on the northern end of Fishkill Ridge and the 80-acre former University Settlement Camp within the Beacon city limits. The Fishkill Ridge property features steep, wooded slopes that provide critical habitat for endangered and threatened species. Clove Creek, a popular trout stream, runs through a portion of the property. The former University Settlement Camp, located at the foot of Mount Beacon and adjacent to Scenic Hudson's 234-acre Mount Beacon Park, contains a mixture of woods and meadows, as well as a swimming pool, theater, gym and other buildings. The facility will be managed by the City of Beacon as a public park and community center.

Scenic Hudson President Ned Sullivan commented "These properties meet New York State's highest standards for protection and are part of a new initiative, launched by Scenic Hudson in honor of the Hudson 400th, to Protect the Land that Matters Most along the river." Sullivan went on to acknowledge the vital roles played by Scenic Hudson's Margery Groten and Seth McKee in working to make the land protection deals possible.

See this press release for further details about this exciting news for the Hudson Highlands region.