FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 24, 2023

Contact: Beth Cefalu,
Director of Strategic Communications
(845) 638-5645

Open Space Acquisition Nominations Closing Soon

Nomination Deadline November 1st

New City, NY, - Rockland County Executive Ed Day and the Division of Environmental Resources will be closing nominations for the County’s revitalized Open Space Acquisition Program on November 1st.

“We urge residents who haven’t already done so to submit nominations of properties to help us preserve open space and protect our County’s environment and beauty for future generations,” said County Executive Day.

The program was first launched in 1999 by former County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef with the goal of acquiring areas of scenic beauty, environmentally sensitive lands, farms, and Hudson River waterfront areas. Until Rockland County’s fiscal difficulties caused the program to be suspended in 2010, 31 individual properties were acquired preserving 1,204 acres of land. Since the programs revival in 2019, the County preserved another three properties encompassing 25 acres of land, which was announced in April of this year.

“The County Legislature was proud to preserve an additional 25 acres in Rockland and we are excited to acquire more purchases in the future to preserve the land for residents that won’t be developed,” said Legislative Chair Jay Hood Jr.

Information and guidelines about the Open Space program, as well as nomination forms, are available here and should be submitted by email to LyonJ@co.rockland.ny.us

Once nominations are closed, all applications will be reviewed by an internal Open Space Advisory Committee made up of representatives from the Division of Environmental Resources, Department of Planning, Department of Health, Office of Fire and Emergency Services and the Rockland County Drainage Agency. Next steps include:

• Determination made that property owner is interested in selling.
• Field inspection and rating of each property based on the Open Space Guidelines.
• Appraisal of property.
• County Executive’s Office makes determination to proceed with purchase, resolution prepared and submitted to the County Legislature.