For Immediate Release: May 23, 2016
Contact:
Keith P. McKeever | Public Information Officer | Adirondack Park Agency
contact@apa.ny.gov | (518) 891-4050
RAY BROOK, NY - The Adirondack Park Agency (APA) is accepting public comment for proposed amendments to the Wilmington Wild Forest Area Unit Management Plan (UMP) Amendment. Public comment regarding Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan conformance for this amendment will be accepted until June 10, 2016.
The Wilmington Wild Forest Area is located in the Towns of Wilmington, Jay, Keene, and Saint Armand in Essex County and the Town of Black Brook in Clinton County. The UMP covers about 17,000 acres across several detached Forest Preserve parcels. The core area is located on the east-facing slopes of Whiteface Mountain between the Whiteface Mountain Ski center and the Whiteface Veterans' Memorial Highway.
The boundaries of the Wilmington Wild Forest Area encompass the following tracts: Beaver Brook, Black Brook, Clements Mountain, Hamlin Mountain, River parcel in Jay, Signor Lane, Whiteface and Marble Mountains, Wilmington and Stephenson Ranges.
The Wilmington Wild Forest Area Unit Management Plan was completed in October of 2005. The UMP resulted in the design and construction of multiple-use recreational trails which proved very popular increasing visitation to Wilmington particularly by mountain bikers.
To address increased use this amendment proposes to construct new trails to link State Land to the Hamlet center, provide more beginner appropriate multiple-use trails, increase recreational opportunities for persons with disabilities and reroute trail segments.
Management Proposals include:
1. A trail will be built to connect the Flume Trails to the Atmospheric Science Research Center (ASRC) area. This trail will be about one mile long. It will be built on the east side of Marble Mountain.
2. A trail will be built from the Flume Trails to the Wilmington Reservoir. This will require about two miles of new trail. This trail will connect to the Wilmington Snowmobile Trail near the State land boundary line. The route will use the Wilmington Snowmobile Trail for about 0.25 miles. This trail will be a connection with the Wilmington hamlet area to the Flume Trails.
3. A loop trail will be built south of the parking area on Hardy Road to connect with the Coniferous Trail. There will be about 0.5 miles of new trail built to make connecting loop with existing trail. This trail will be built to accommodate beginner mountain bike riders.
4. A trail will be built to provide an additional climb/descend option for the All-In Trail. This trail will be built with a more flowing style than the tighter turns of the current trail.
5. An accessible loop nature and interpretive trail will be built from the Hardy Road parking area to a scenic vista of a wetland. The trail will be on the west side of Hardy Road. This trail will be about 0.3 miles long. An accessible picnic area with a table and fire ring will be built near the vista.
6. An accessible nature and interpretive trail will be built from the Hardy Road parking area toward the south.
7. Sections of the Cooper Kill Trail will be relocated to make it environmentally sustainable and improve trail usability.
8. A hiking trail will be built from Marble Mountain Lane, at the parking near the ASRC, to the summit of Marble Mountain. This trail will follow some of the old ski trails on the north side of the mountain.
For more information or to download the proposed Wilmington Wild Forest Area Unit Management Plan please go to the Agency's website (apa.ny.gov).
Please address all written comments pertaining to Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan conformance to:
Kathy Regan
Deputy Director for Planning
NYS Adirondack Park Agency
P.O. Box 99
Ray Brook, NY 12977
Fax: 518-891-3938
Email - SLMP_Comments@apa.ny.gov
Please submit all written comments to the APA by June 10, 2016. The mission of the Adirondack Park Agency is to protect the public and private resources of the Adirondack Park through the exercise of the powers and duties of the Agency as provided by law. For more information, call the APA at (518) 891-4050 or visit www.apa.ny.gov.
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