Rockland County Purchases 15 Acres Of Land For Preservation

NEW CITY, NY — Rockland will remain just a little bit greener for generations to come, thanks to recent acquisitions by the county.

Rockland County Executive Ed Day announced that three properties have been purchased and preserved under the county's Open Space Acquisition Program.

The properties include:

• 61 South Mountain Road ( 5 acres)
• 63 South Mountain Road (5.8 acres)
• 71 South Mt. Road (4 acres)

"The County continues to live up to the promise I made when I was first elected back in 2014 to preserve and protect our county’s environment and beauty for future generations," County Executive Ed Day said. "These purchases are an incredible addition to the 40 acres already purchased since last year. Let’s not forget the 132 acres known as the Eagle Valley Assemblage that my administration is also in the process of purchasing from the Open Space Institute, all of which I am proud of."

The acquisition of the three parcels will add 15 acres to South Mountain County Park, a linear 240-acre park running between Central Highway in New City to Route 45 in Pomona. In addition, the land will provide another new access point to the park and the Long Path.

"These properties are significant acquisitions that I am excited to preserve and add to the County parks," Kevin McGuinness, Coordinator of the County’s Division of Environmental Resources, said. "The plan is to put a small parking area and trail head at 71 S. Mountain Road. In addition, two new trails will be constructed East and West to connect to the Long Path."

All properties nominated to the Open Space Acquisition Program are vetted by an Open Space Advisory Committee made up of representatives from the Division of Environmental Resources, the Department of Planning, the Department of Health, and the Finance Department’s Tax Enforcement Unit.

Field inspections are then performed, and each property is scored using a point system based on their characteristics: connecting open spaces, preserving environmentally sensitive resources, protecting farms, preserving historic and cultural places, protecting the Hudson River, promoting opportunities for recreation, protecting rivers and streams, and protecting the watershed.

The top-scoring properties are then presented to the county executive’s team to review and decide which parcels to purchase based on the Open Space Advisory Committee ratings. Those properties are then sent to the Rockland County legislature for funding approval.