Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo this month announced
$500,000 in grants will be awarded to
communities in the Adirondacks to enhance
business development and access to the
state’s newly-acquired former Finch, Pruyn
& Co. lands.
The Adirondack Park Upper Hudson
Recreation Hub grants, provided by the Nature
Conservancy, will be used to fund nine
projects that increase tourism opportunities,
support small business growth and expand
recreational offerings, strengthening the
region’s local economy and supporting jobs.
Included among the projects is $13,250
to the town of Johnsburg in Warren County
for equipment to be used by a local guide
service, North Creek Rafting Co. LLC, to
provide guided inflatable kayak trips on the
Upper Hudson River between Newcomb and
the confluence with the Indian River.
“The Town of Johnsburg is thrilled to be
receiving this grant and I express my appreciation
to Gov. Cuomo and The Nature
Conservancy,” said Johnsburg Supervisor Ron
Vanselow. “This grant will surely enhance our
local economy by providing another way for
visitors to our area to experience these newly
acquired lands. This is a great opportunity
for all of us.”
State officials said the trip is suitable for
beginners and is made possible by take-outs
at two locations south of Newcomb – the
iron bridge about seven miles from the Lake
Harris put-in and the Indian River property,
upstream of the confluence of the Hudson
and Indian Rivers and the heavy whitewater
of the Hudson Gorge.
“Preserving the wilderness of the Adirondacks
while promoting access and growth within the region is a generational legacy that
continues today,” Cuomo said. “These projects
will make it easier for visitors to hike, fish,
hunt and enjoy the unparalleled landscape
of the Adirondacks, while boosting communities’
economies all across the region. I thank
The Nature Conservancy for their important
and continued support of the Adirondacks
and New York state.”
The Adirondack Park Upper Hudson Recreation
Hub grants support business-oriented
community development projects ranging
from equipping a new guide service in Newcomb
and inflatable kayak trips on the Upper
Hudson River, to establishing equestrian
staging areas in North Hudson and Long Lake.
The Nature Conservancy acquired the
former Finch lands in 2007. To protect the
land for future generations, Cuomo announced
in 2012 that the state had reached
an agreement with The Nature Conservancy
to acquire 69,000 acres of the lands and other
The Nature Conservancy holdings over a five year
period.
Department of Environmental Conservation
Commissioner Joe Martens said the
Adirondacks “have long been a popular
destination for individuals and families of all
abilities, and the former Finch lands will significantly
expand outdoor recreation opportunities
and support the regional economy.”
Michael Carr, executive director of the
Nature Conservancy’s Adirondack Chapter,
said his organization “is delighted to continue
its work with local communities, regional
tourism offices, and state agencies to unlock
the potential for spectacular lands to play a
new role in the park’s outdoor recreation and
tourism economy.”