Environment DEC
From the July 2009 issue
2009 Open Space Plan
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis and State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) Commissioner Carol Ash announced the release of the state's 2009 Open Space Conservation Plan, which provides a comprehensive blueprint for focusing and achieving the state's conservation goals.
Open space planning will protect regional resources
"Traditionally, the Open Space Plan has been geared toward land acquisition, without much thought given to the broader scope. This new plan changes that," Commissioner Grannis said. "To be sure, the plan still focuses on the state's longstanding tradition of including large wilderness tracts for possible acquisition. But, under Governor Paterson, it also contains comprehensive recommendations to help local governments and non-profit organizations undertake open-space planning at regional and community levels."
The 2009 Open Space Plan builds on previous state plans and contains a list of 135 priority conservation projects across the state, identified by nine citizen-based regional advisory committees. It makes many sensible and cost-effective recommendations that can help protect New York's outdoor heritage, reduce sprawl and improve the quality of life in communities across the state.
The Governor's Smart Growth Cabinet, the Ocean and Great Lakes Council, the Climate Smart Community network and the Hudson River Estuary Program, along with several state agencies, have been involved with development of the open-space recommendations and will provide technical assistance to local and regional governments and planning organizations. The plan includes more than 300 Internet links to related content, resources and partners in open-space conservation.
