For Immediate Release: May 17, 2024
Contact:
Keith P. McKeever | Public Information Officer | Adirondack Park Agency
contact@apa.ny.gov | (518) 891-4050
Public Comment Period Open Through June 17, 2024
Ray Brook - The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Adirondack Park Agency (APA) are holding a joint public comment period to solicit comments for an amendment to the 2016 Cranberry Lake Campground and Day Use Area Unit Management Plan (UMP). The public is invited to submit input on a draft amendment for the construction of a playground.
The amendment will guide siting, construction, and management of a playground within the Cranberry Lake Day-Use Area. The DEC will consider public comments on the management activity as it finalizes the draft amendment. Concurrently, the APA will accept public comment on the proposal’s conformance to the Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan. All comments will be accepted until June 17, 2024.
The Cranberry Lake Public Campground is classified by the Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan as an Intensive Use Campground and Day-Use Area and is managed by the Department as such with an emphasis on the area’s rustic and natural value. It is located just south of the hamlet of Cranberry Lake in the Town of Clifton, St. Lawrence County. It is accessible by vehicle from Lone Pine Road.
Approximately 30,000 visitor camper nights occurred in the 2023 season. Annually, the campground also receives approximately 3,000-day use visitors. Many of these visitors come with families and small children. A playground would enhance their experience.
The construction of a playground was not proposed in the 2016 Unit Management Plan, and as a result this amendment seeks to allow for the construction of a playground in the parking lot area, replacing the current amphitheater. To conform aesthetically to guidelines related to Intensive Use Areas, natural materials such as cedar logs, mortise, and tenon joinery will be used to the extent most possible in the construction of the project. The proposed playground would conform to ADA standards and be of a rustic quality essential to the aesthetics of the Adirondack Park.
The Draft amendment is posted on the NYSDEC webpage and on the NYS APA website
Copies of the draft amendment also may be obtained by calling (518) 457-2500.
DEC will accept comments on the proposed management actions through June 17, 2024. Public comments can be submitted by mail or email to:
Oliver Miller, EPS1 (NR) NYS DEC Bureau of Recreation 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-5253 Email: href="mailto: campinfo@dec.ny.gov">campinfo@dec.ny.gov
The APA will accept public comments on the proposed draft amendment’s conformance to the Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan through June 17, 2024. Please address all written comments related to the proposed UMPs’ conformance to the Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan to:
Megan Phillips, Deputy Director Planning Adirondack Park Agency P.O. Box 99, Ray Brook, NY 12977 Phone: (518) 891-4050 Email: SLMP_UMP_Comments@apa.ny.gov
Unit management plans are required by the Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan for each unit of State land in the Adirondack Park. UMPs integrate the guidelines and criteria of the Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan, related legislation, and resource and visitor use information into a single document Read more in the Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan