Awosting Reserve (Shawangunks) nearing preservation

[Mark Schaefer]

The legal battle is not yet over, however, the lawyer and judge mediating the sale of the Awosting Reserve has accepted the $17M offer by the Trust for Public Land and the Open Space Institute to purchase the 2500 acre Awosting Reserve. The land is located on the eastern ridge of the Shawangunks adjacent to the Minnewaska State Park and Sam's Point Preserve. When finalized the land will be transferred to New York State for inclusion in the Minnewaska State Park. The judge accepted the purchase over higher bids by actor Robert De Niro, and the Bradley family who once owned the land and had sought to build a gated community of 349 luxury homes. The land is below the Gertrude's Nose cliffs and includes the lower portions of the environmentally sensitive Palmaghatt Ravine.

The Bradley family has stated that the legal battle is not yet over and is considering their legal options.

Other recent news articles:
11/6/05 Middletown Times Herald Record
11/4/05 Associated Press, printed in the Albany Times Union.

Archives of related articles:
http://www.savetheridge.com/newslinks.htm
http://www.shawangunkridge.org/newslinks.htm

 

[AMF]

While this is indeed good news, its too bad it will probably end up being managed by PIPC, the park commission that invented the word "NO". One of the few parks I know of where, unless an activity is specifically authorized, it is illegal to do.

 

[Jay H]

AMF, PIPC, hahahaha... I know what you mean.

That property isn't what is in contention between Mud Pond and Minnewaska as far as the Long Path is concerned is it?

Jay

 

[Mark Schaefer]

That property isn't what is in contention between Mud Pond and Minnewaska as far as the Long Path is concerned is it?

The proposed resort included the closed Long Path section between Verkeerder Kill Falls and Mud Lake (upper left on the map). It was to have been a designated buffer zone. Presumably that section of trail could reopen once the land is included in the state park. It would re-establish the direct link between Sam's Point and Minnewaska.

There are already plans to reroute the Long Path to avoid long road walks near Kerhonkson. The Long Path will use (per the 2005 NYNJTC maps):

trail to High Point
old blue trail to Four Mile Camp
down past Panther Rock and Jacob's Ladder
road walk on Port Ben Road, crossing 209, and Lundy Road
the recently purchased Lundy estate to Vernooy Kill Falls​