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Open Space Institute Announces Strategic Acquisition at Storm King Mountain

Image Credit: Greg Miller

New York, NY - March 14, 2005 - This morning the Open Space Institute announced its acquisition of a conservation easement on approximately four acres in the town of Cornwall, Orange County, adjacent to Storm King State Park and Black Rock Forest. The Open Space Conservancy, OSI's land acquisition affiliate, acquired the property at a closing in New York City on January 24 with funds provided by the Lila Acheson and DeWitt Wallace Endowment. 

“The Highland Region continues to be a critical area for OSI's conservation program,” said Joe Martens, President of the Open Space Institute. 

These acres, owned by the Storm King School, neighbor Storm King State Park on two sides and stand between natural lands and residential development. 

“This parcel provides a significant buffer zone for important natural areas in the Highlands— Black Rock Forest and Storm King State Park,” continued Martens. 

The 1,884-acre Storm King State Park was established in the early 1920s and overlooks one of the most prominent and historically significant stretches of the Hudson River. Black Rock Forest also borders the land under easement, making protection of these properties extremely beneficial for both natural areas. 

Since 1867, Storm King School has operated a unique educational facility in the Hudson Highlands overlooking the Hudson River. The school sold the development rights on the four acres, part of which currently serves as an athletic field, to ensure that the property is not subdivided or further developed. The school can continue to use the land. 

“OSI has been preserving significant parcels in and around Black Rock Forest for some time. It is a very strategic acquisition. This easement may only be a few acres but OSI is committed to preserving the natural beauty of the Hudson Highlands even if it is one acre at a time,” said OSI Vice President for Land Acquisition Jennifer Grossman. 

The mission of the Open Space Institute is to protect scenic, natural and historic landscapes to ensure public enjoyment, conserve habitats and sustain community character. OSI achieves its goals through land acquisition, conservation easements, special loan programs, and creative partnerships. 

The Open Space Institute  has protected more than 90,000 acres in New York State. Through its Northern Forest Protection Fund, OSI has assisted in the protection of 900,000 acres in northern NY, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. OSI's New Jersey Conservation Loan Program has helped protect over 10,000 acres in the nation's most densely populated state
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