Groups Thank New Yorkers for Approving Adirondack Land Swaps
November 6, 2013
Dear friends:
Voters Support their Adirondack Park and Forest Preserve.
Voters reaffirmed that the Adirondack Park belongs to all New Yorkers. Proposition 4 (Township 40) was approved by a wide margin. Voters also approved Proposition 5 that expands the Jay Mountain Wilderness as part of a land swap with the NYCO mineral company. The approval of this constitutional amendment expands access to all sides of the Jay Mountain Wilderness and adds important new resources to the Forest Preserve.
Election results show that New Yorkers care deeply about the Adirondack Park. Clearly the Adirondack Council, Adirondack Mountain Club, and the New York League of Conservation Voters’ collaboration with local governments, unions, and property owners can produce victories and results that benefit the Forest Preserve and communities.
The Adirondack Council, Adirondack Mountain Club, and New York League of Conservation Voters are grateful that the voters approved these two Constitutional Amendments authorizing land swaps strengthening the 'forever wild' Adirondack Forest Preserve. This strong vote of support shows that New Yorkers value the environmental and economic benefits of the State's six-million-acre Adirondack Park.
Voters share our vision of an Adirondack Park that works best when its wild character is protected and its small towns and hamlets are vibrant and alive.
The three organizations thank the voters of New York for supporting our quest to add more than 1,500 acres to the Forest Preserve in the Jay Mountain Wilderness and Taylor Pond Wild Forest, in the Town of Lewis, plus protect the almost 300-acre Marion River Canoe Carry in the Town of Long Lake.
We thank all our partners and supporters for assisting in this victory for the park, for an expanded Forest Preserve, and for the park's communities. Now, together with those who supported these amendments and those who didn't, we can focus on advancing strategies that don't require constitutional amendments but do combine additional protection of waters and land, and enhancement of the wild forest character of the State's largest Park, including actions that foster vibrant communities.
These wins for the people's Adirondack Park, for wilderness and communities, showcase the success of the best way of doing Adirondack conservation -- collaboratively. When we're working together the people's park wins. This collaborative way of doing business will build us a better park.
Your Adirondack Park won at the polls on Election Day.
Sincerely,
Willie Janeway, Executive Director, Adirondack Council
Neil Woodworth, Executive Director, Adirondack Mountain Club
Marcia Bystryn, President, NY League of Conservation Voters
