Ultimately, it was those signs, all those signs, that helped "Save the Ridge" from development. For a time, they seemed everywhere in Ulster County, these red-and-white signs outside shops and on people's lawns. They branded a grassroots message - that a large development project was entirely inappropriate for the pivotal parcel in the Shawangunk Ridge.
Last week, the people pushing for preservation claimed a big victory. New York smartly sealed a deal, agreeing to pay $17 million to purchase 2,500 acres that will become part of an expanded Minnewaska State Park. Following a court dispute, the parcel, known as the Awosting Reserve, was recently sold to the Trust for Public Land which, in turn, resold the land to the state for the same price. The speed of the transaction was in stark contrast to the years of mounting opposition it took to stop a developer from building a village center, a golf course and pricey cabins in some of the highest reaches of the ridge. This would have forever changed one of the most glorious areas in the Hudson Valley, not to mention breaking up huge tracts of open space that allow wildlife and habitat to thrive.
Fortunately, landowner John Atwater Bradley's proposal become embroiled in various legal squabbles with his partners. He faced considerable local opposition and a maze of regulatory hurdles. After the partnership fell apart, a court-appointed arbiter auctioned the land last fall. The property shares a five-mile border with Minnewaska State Park, a popular destination for hikers, bikers and other outdoor lovers. Expanding the park makes abundant sense. The state says it will intently examine all aspects of the land before determining future public uses, such as designating trails and identifying official points of entry.
Meanwhile, the fight to "Save the Ridge" will continue in other smaller battles. The 50-mile ridge, formed by glaciers hundreds of millions of years ago, is not as protected as many might assume. Once-rural places are now prime targets for second-home and other developers. It's only recently that towns along the ridge, such as Gardiner, have made serious efforts to change their zoning laws to protect the viewshed and environment of the Shawangunks. Gardiner's action was spurred in no small measure by Bradley's proposal.
So was the "Save The Ridge" campaign. This great victory is a tribute to the residents behind that effort - and to The Trust for Public Land and state for getting this deal done.
Poughkeepsie Journal link to article
