By Justin A. Levine – Communications Associate
Friday, October 4, 2024
After receiving overwhelmingly negative feedback on a proposed off-road vehicle trail network, Franklin County has decided to eliminate the trails that would have been located within the Adirondack Park. Franklin County, one of the northern counties of the Adirondacks, is divided by the Blue Line, with the southern half of the county inside the park and the northern half outside. The county’s tourism office initially proposed 500 miles of off-road vehicle trails, including hundreds of miles within the Adirondack Park. The proposal, however, was met with criticism for its inadequately detailed maps, and the towns of Franklin and Brighton passed resolutions opposing the expansion of off-road vehicle use.
Changes to Adirondack Park land plan should keep wilderness wild
As the state Adirondack Park Agency considers changes to the State Land Master Plan (SLMP), it’s crucial to remember its primary goal: protecting natural resources and ecological integrity. The SLMP should ideally be updated every five years to stay aligned with current issues, but this has not occurred regularly. Any proposed updates to the SLMP should be carefully considered and narrow in scope to avoid unintended consequences in the future.
Halving the salt: State tests show promise for reducing use on Adirondack roads
The Adirondack Council, in collaboration with state and local Adirondack groups, has long advocated for reducing the amount of salt applied to roads in the Adirondacks. State and local transportation departments have made progress, as demonstrated by successful pilot programs over the past couple of years. However, further efforts are needed to ensure continued salt reduction, promote knowledge-sharing across departments, and establish accountability for these efforts.
APA proposes a shift away from carrying capacity to visitor use management
This year, the state Adirondack Park Agency has suggested several changes to the Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan, including carrying capacity, climate change and accessibility language. Holistically, the addition of these three buckets is important and warranted, but some of the proposed changes have raised concerns around agency accountability and what it will mean for future Forest Preserve management and protection.
Expanding accessibility on state lands: DEC launches pilot program
The Adirondack Park belongs to all New Yorkers, regardless of location or physical ability. Therefore, it was encouraging to see the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) launch a pilot accessibility program this summer. At Great Camp Santanoni in Newcomb, the DEC offered free rentals of off-road mobility chairs and scooters for people with mobility issues. This initiative allowed participants to complete the nearly 10-mile round trip to the historic camp along its dirt road, providing greater access to this unique part of the Park.
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Justin Levine joined the Council staff in 2021 as the Communications and Outreach Assistant. He previously worked as a regional marketing manager for the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism and was an award-winning journalist and photographer for the Adirondack Daily Enterprise and Lake Placid News. Since graduating from Paul Smith’s College in 2004, Justin has worked in the environmental field in various roles in both the Adirondacks and Florida. When not working, Justin loves spending time with his family, running, and doing all the outdoor things the Park has to offer.