GREENWOOD LAKE – Another 130 acres of open space have been added to Sterling Forest State Park, adding trails and public access to the 22,000-acre park.
The land has a unique history both as part of the former Greenwood Forest Farms, an early 1900s resort for prominent black families from Harlem and Brooklyn, and as a vantage point of Greenwood Lake immortalized in a painting by Hudson River School artist Jasper Cropsey.
State Assemblyman Karl Brabenec (R, Deerpark) termed the acquisition an “awesome” purchase.
“This is going to preserve a lot of acres of natural beauty for many, many years to come so that many generations to come can enjoy this beautiful scenery and the beautiful atmosphere of Greenwood Lake and Sterling Forest,” he said.
The state purchased the property for $364,000 from the Environmental Protection Fund.
State Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid said the addition to the state park “is a great example of how open space protection not only safeguards critical natural habitat and enhances outdoor recreation, it helps preserve important historic and cultural resources.”
