Protected Park
Appalachian National Scenic Trail – Pawling, NY
In May 2018, the National Park Trust, alongside The Trust for Public Land, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, and Oblong Land Conservancy, acquired 219 acres of woodlands near Pawling, New York, for $2.38 million. This acquisition, which was transferred to the National Park Service (NPS) in July 2018, not only expands the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (AT) but also protects critical natural habitats and preserves scenic views along one of America’s most iconic hiking destinations.
Project Details:
Project Years: 2017 – 2018
Parcel Size: 219 acres
Project Years: $2,380,000
Park Trust Role: Fund administrative costs
Project Years: Naional Park Trust funds
Overview
This section of the AT is located in Duchess County, NY — a two-hour drive and a 1 ½ hour train ride from New York City. As such, it is one of the most accessible segments of the trail and one of the most at risk for development. So when the opportunity presented itself to protect 219 acres that had been slated to become a 50-unit subdivision, we joined with The Trust for Public Land, Appalachian Trail Conservancy and Oblong Land Conservancy to complete a $2.38 million purchase of the property. With this addition to the AT, the NPS can relocate a length of the trail, bypassing a marshy wetland where current hiker traffic conflicts with the habitat of several endangered species. Another segment can be moved off private land, and the NPS will be able to relocate a parking area to protect the iconic Dover Oak. This eastern white oak, over 114 feet tall with a circumference exceeding 20 feet, is a local landmark and the largest tree along the entire length of the AT.
Why This Place Matters
Given its popularity and accessibility (it even has its very own train station stop), this part of the trail is both a respite for urban and through-hikers and a target for development. Due to that and its unique habitat, this property was designated as the National Park Service’s top priority nationwide for 2018. In addition, the property lies just below the Cat Rocks overlook, a spectacular vista that is one of the highlights of the AT in New York.
Significance of the Acquisition:
- • Ensures that the picturesque views of the Harlem Valley are not interrupted by housing development
- • Preserves ecologically sensitive habitat
- • Allows re-routing of the trail away from endangered species habitat, securing permanent habitat protection
- • Allows re-route of trail from adjacent private property onto the new public land
- • Enhances the Appalachian Trail experience along with one of the most accessible and popular segments of the Trail.
