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Taking the lead on all our open space acquisition efforts is Allan Beers and the Division of Environmental Resources. The Division was largely responsible for formulating the Guidelines for Open Space Acquisition and developing the procedures that have made our land preservation efforts so successful. But let me tell you more about what the Division does: The Division was formed in 1996 with a consolidation of the Parks Commission, Environmental Management Council, and the Soil and Water Conservation District. It is responsible for coordinating environmental issues facing the County. It manages the County’s park system of 16 parks. In 2001 it added 50 acres of mountainous property located in the Village of Hillburn and 34 acres along the Minisceongo Creek to the system, and acquired 12.5 acres in Nyack to protect the Long Path Hiking Trail. Phase 1 of the new Haverstraw Bay Park is completed, and Phase 2 is currently underway with the construction of a parks building and garage, playground, pavilion, walking paths and picnic tables and benches. Phase 3 will include construction of a boat launch, pedestrian fishing pier and bulkhead replacement around the southern inlet. We are still on schedule for a summer 2003 opening. Off-leash dog runs are now at Kennedy Park, in addition to Kakiat Park, and several hundred residents (and their dogs) use them weekly. The Division administers the County’s Pest Management Committee and completed the Pesticide Neighbor Notification Law Assessment – the most comprehensive analysis of the law conducted by any County in the State. That work led to the adoption of the Neighbor Notification Law, and the Division is now working with the Department of Health on full implementation of the law. For these successes and so many more, it is my pleasure to acknowledge the excellent work of the Division of Environment Resources and its Coordinator Allan Beers. C. Scott
Vanderhoef |
