BLOOMING GROVE – Open Space
Institute has purchased 416 acres of open space in the Hudson Highlands
that will protect drinking water resources for Orange County and safeguard
a scenic natural area from regional development.
The Mountain Lodge property was purchased for $881,000 and will be turned over to the state Parks Department, said OSI Senior Vice President for Conservation Transactions Terrence Nolan.
“It will be open to the public even as we, Open Space Institute, own it,” Nolan said. “It is open for hiking and is something we invite the public to check out. It offers great views in every direction, especially during the fall foliage season.”.
The property is in the Moodna Creek Watershed, which supplies water to Orange County. The land is adjacent to a subdivision and in an area under significant development threat spreading north and west of Route 87/17 interchange, Nolan said. The property’s conservation furthers several long-term open space planning and protection efforts in the area, such as the Moodna Creek Watershed Conservation and Management Plan, the Orange County Open Space Plan and the Southern Wallkill Biodiversity Plan, he said.
