- Report recommends that diversity, equity, inclusivity, and justice (DEIJ) principles be included in recreational, educational, and operational frameworks.
- Advisory group emphasized that the state embrace the benefits of DEIJ and to achieve a more welcoming and inclusive Catskill Park.
By: New York State DEC | January 6, 2023
The Catskill Strategic Planning Advisory Group (CAG) submitted its final report on promoting sustainable recreation in the Catskill Forest Preserve to New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos. Comprised of stakeholders with expertise in local government, recreation, natural resource protection, business and tourism, and other priority areas, the
CAG was tasked in October 2020 with providing recommendations to DEC on how to address critical issues associated with increased public use of Catskill Park resources in order to protect these areas in the short term, as well as for future generations…
The final report includes proposed actions DEC and its state and local partners could undertake, pending available funding and continued partnership, to balance increasing and diverse recreational use of the Catskill Forest Preserve, protecting the park’s natural and historic resources, and ensuring visitor experiences when using the Park are welcoming, accessible, and inclusive.
The CAG has been meeting throughout the past two years to develop this report with recommendations for immediate actions and strategic investments and priorities under six major themes:
- Whole Park Management – The Catskill Park is currently broken down into many different jurisdictions. Recommendations include management strategies to operate the Catskill Park as a whole park in a more cohesive manner;
- Natural Resources – Ensuring the protection of the Park’s natural resources remains a high priority for the State and all stakeholders;
- Marketing, Communication and Education – Recommending the State and other stakeholders work together to promote the Park, while also educating visitors about how to reduce their impacts;
- Traffic and Parking – The current infrastructure of the Park was not developed to handle the volume of cars that are traveling to the area. Recommendations include joint investment between the State and other stakeholders to address overflow at locations that are particularly affected by the impacts of frequent visitation;
- Benefits to Park Communities – Recommending the State and stakeholders work jointly in efforts to maximize the economic opportunities of the Park to better the lives of the residents of the Park; and
- Building Diversity, Equity, Inclusivity, and Justice (DEIJ) principles – Recommending these principles be included in recreational, educational, and operational frameworks and the economic benefits provided in the Catskill Park and seeks to promote and embrace the benefits of DEIJ and to achieve a more welcoming and inclusive Catskill Park.
Commissioner Seggos and DEC experts are reviewing the final report as the agency continues its efforts to promote sustainable use while supporting communities in the region and throughout the Catskill Park, as well as in other popular recreation destinations on public lands across New York State. DEC established a similar effort with Adirondack Park stakeholders with the creation of the
High Peaks Strategic Planning Advisory Group (HPAG) in 2019.
DEC has already begun to implement many of these recommendations including the hiring of a Catskill Park Coordinator. The
Catskill Park Coordinator position was created in 2021 after the CAG recommended this position in its interim report. DEC continues to work through a
Visitor Use Management Frame (VUMF) process to protect the trailless peaks of the Catskills and is planning to begin a second VUMF in the Kaaterskill Clove area in 2023. Additionally, DEC is working to expand professional trails construction and visitor education capabilities. Leading into the peak hiking seasons,
DEC worked with many other public and private partners to protect public safety and natural resources in the busiest Catskill corridors and trails.
Read more from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation.
