Environment DEC
From the October 2004 issue
DEC'S "Lark in the Park" Celebrates Catskill Park's 100th Anniversary
Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Erin M. Crotty is encouraging New Yorkers to participate in the ten-day "Lark in the Park," a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the creation of the Catskill Park. From October 2 through October 11, 2004, the "Lark" will showcase the Catskill Park's storied history by paying homage to everything from fly-fishing and hiking to artistic movements.
"The Lark in the Park is a wonderful way for people to discover the wealth of history, culture, natural resources, and recreational opportunities offered by the Catskills," said DEC Commissioner Erin M. Crotty. "I encourage all New Yorkers and visitors to begin planning now to participate in the many educational activities and outdoor adventures that are a fitting way to celebrate the centennial of this unique Park."
Many hikes will be available
The Lark in the Park agenda will feature more than 60 free guided hikes, walks, paddles, biking tours, and fly-fishing events, as well as exhibits and festivals. Numerous environmental, recreational, historical, and cultural organizations are joining DEC to sponsor and lead events including: The Catskill Center for Conservation and Development, Adirondack Mountain Club, Catskill 3500 Club, and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection.
Catskill Park
The Catskill Park was created by an act of the New York State Legislature and signed into law by Governor Benjamin Odell on April 4, 1904. The Park's 705,500 acres is an amalgam of both public and private lands in Delaware, Greene, Sullivan and Ulster Counties. The Catskill Forest Preserve comprises 41 percent of the Catskill Park, containing more than 300,000 acres of pristine land protected as "forever wild" in New York's Constitution.
DEC has just issued a centennial edition of "The Catskill Park Official Map and Guide." This beautiful color brochure includes a useful map of the park and a description of outdoor recreational opportunities available. It is available now at DEC's Region 3 offices in New Paltz and Tarrytown and Region 4 offices in Schenectady and Stamford.
Hiking and fishing at the
Vernooykill Falls are two
activities planned for
"Lark in the Park"
Within the park's boundaries are the scenic landscapes that inspired the rise of the first exclusively American art movement-the Hudson River School-and the waterways that gave birth to fly-fishing in America. Five hikes, ranging from easy to moderately challenging, will take place during the Lark in the Park. Hiking destinations include the favorite Hudson River School artist sites along the Escarpment Trail, in the Kaaterskill Clove, at North-South Lake and at the Kaaterskill Falls. A celebration of the reopening of the studio at Thomas Cole's home, Cedar Grove, in Catskill, New York, will be held on Sunday, October 3. Cole was the founding father of the Hudson River School, and his home is now a national historic site.
Fly-fishing, Hiking and Biking
To honor the Catskills as the birthplace of fly-fishing in America, the Catskill Center for Conservation and Development (CCCD) is offering a lesson in fly-fishing at Pine Hill Lake, and the Frost Valley YMCA is sponsoring a spin-casting fishing derby for children up to age 18 at Lake Cole in Claryville. The Winnesook Club, a private residential community founded in 1886 as a gentleman's fly-fishing club, will open its doors on Sunday, October 3 for an illustrated program about the club's history, followed by a walk around the lake. DEC is sponsoring tours of the Catskill Fish Hatchery at Mongaup Pond in Sullivan County, and DEC's spawning beds at Trout Pond in Delaware County.
Casual walkers and hearty hikers can enjoy 35 different walks and hikes. A gentle, one-mile nature walk led by Catskill Center staff around Alder Lake in Ulster County is well suited for families and will be followed by a story circle for young children and a scavenger hunt for older ones. Strenuous hikes of several of the 98 Catskill high peaks over 3,000 feet include Kaaterskill High Peak, West Kill Mountain and a triple-header over Slide, Wittenberg and Cornell mountains. Catskill Fire Tower Day on Sunday, October 10 will feature hikes sponsored by the Catskill Center to all five of the recently restored historic fire towers in the Catskill Park on the summits of Overlook, Tremper, Hunter, Red Hill and Balsam Lake Mountain.
Several "Lark in the Park" activities will offer opportunities for discovering lesser known nooks and crannies in the Catskill Park such as DEC's Sundown Wild Forest, which includes the recently acquired Lundy Estate of nearly 5,000 acres, and Cathedral Gorge on the Esopus Creek near Ashokan. Carved out by the creek's waters, the dramatic rock formation offers a fascinating study in Catskills geology. The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP) will offer three walks on Catskill watershed lands not normally accessible to the public. In addition, a stream-tracking hike along the West Kill led by NYCDEP will illustrate the role that streams play in the evolution and ecology of the Catskill landscape.
Biking events
are planned
Three biking events will include a 10-mile ride led by Fats in the Cats along the web of undulating trails in the DEC Bluestone Wild Forest, and a 20-mile scenic pedal around the paved perimeter of the Pepacton Reservoir, led by Beth Waterman of Celebrating Catskill Women. Led by Region 3's Natural Resources Supervisor, Bill Rudge, the 100-mile, 10-hour Centennial Century Ride-the Catskill Park's version of the Tour de France-will cover some of the park's most mountainous terrain.
Social and Cultural History
Several events will illustrate pages from the Catskills' rich social and cultural history. Bluestone quarrying, once a major industry in the region, will be the topic of a walk and talk in the Bluestone Wild Forest. An illustrated talk on the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the Catskills will be given by author Diane Galusha at the Fairview Library in Margaretville, followed by a short walk through a Norway spruce plantation planted by CCC. The historic and still-active Byrdcliffe Arts and Crafts Colony will offer a tour of the cottages and unique home of the colony's founder, Ralph Whitehead. The Second Annual Cauliflower Festival in Margaretville on Saturday, October 2 celebrates when that vegetable was the reigning cash crop in the region.
Scavenger Hunt
The Catskill Park Photo Scavenger Hunt will provide an impetus to explore every corner of the park in search of photo ops...and prizes.
For more information about the Catskill Park Centennial, visit DEC's Web Site. Also, for a free program guide with a listing of all centennial events, call (877) 426-0323 or use the link below. Please note that some activities require reservations.
