The Peru Gazette

NYS News Release, Nov. 20, 2025 – Albany – Governor Kathy Hochul today approved amendments to the Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan (SLMP) which were recommended by the Adirondack Park Agency Board. The amendments improve the protection and management of 2.9 million acres of public land in New York State’s Adirondack Park.

“From providing clean drinking water to welcoming millions of visitors every year to enjoy the outdoors, the Adirondack Park is a national treasure and a symbol of New York’s environmental leadership,” Governor Hochul said. “These amendments ensure that New York remains at the forefront of public land preservation and conservation for the benefit of New Yorkers today and tomorrow. By strengthening resilience and promoting sustainable recreation, we are safeguarding the Adirondacks for the next generation while preserving their wild character.

The SLMP guides how state land within the Adirondack Park Forest Preserve can be used by the public and maintained and modified by the State through establishing different classes of protection. The amendments approved today ensure that planning for the preservation of and recreation in one of the State’s most precious natural resources also aligns with the values of inclusion and resilience. These amendments further enhance the Adirondack Park Agency and Department of Environmental Conservation’s ability to:

• Protect habitat and open space and protect recreation investments by addressing climate risks;
• Improve public land and water access for persons with disabilities by identifying existing accessible infrastructure and assessing potential additions;
• Support sustainable outdoor recreation by incorporating visitor use management into public land planning.

The Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan guides decision-making for 2.9 million acres of state land in the Adirondack Park. In addition to requiring that climate change, accessibility, and visitor use management are included in management and use planning for each state land parcel, the amendments update practices for wildlife management structures and historic areas.

Additionally, a recent state land acquisition—the 585-acre Four Peaks Tract in the Towns of Wilmington and Jay—was classified as Wild Forest. Containing a diverse array of meadowlands and mountains, the Four Peaks Tract was identified in the New York State Open Space Conservation Plan and has the potential to expand recreational opportunities in the Ausable River Valley.

APA Executive Director Barbara Rice said, “The Agency thanks Governor Hochul for her decisive environmental leadership. This action concludes nearly two years of hard work and thoughtful deliberation. These amendments will ensure the State continues to protect New York’s globally significant natural resources as we work to ensure access to our public lands to people of all abilities.”