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NISKAYUNA---New York State will create the first State Park in Schenectady County on a 107-acre nature preserve along the Mohawk River in the Town of Niskayuna. The new Mohawk River State Park is located near Lock 7 of the Erie Canal and the Hudson-Mohawk bike path; it is the 175th State Park and the 25th the Governor has opened since 1995.
“With Earth Day approaching, it’s the perfect time to build on our commitment to protect the natural resources along the historic Erie Canal by celebrating the creation of a new public park,” Governor George Pataki said. “This acquisition is a milestone for the region and will provide residents and visitors to Schenectady County with the exceptional recreational opportunities offered by our award-winning State Park system. The new Mohawk River State Park will not only protect these scenic natural resources, but also improve the quality of life for county residents by providing greater access to public parkland and additional waterfront programs and activities.”
Using $1 million from the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF), the property was purchased from the Schenectady Museum and will be operated by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks). The parcel is included in the New York State Open Space plan as part of the Mohawk River Valley Corridor/Erie Canal.
State Parks also is partnering with the NYS Canal Corporation on the transfer of riverfront lands owned by the Canal Corp. surrounding its Lock 7 facility. These lands, which include a boat launch and boat basin, picnic areas, and parking, will be incorporated into the new State Park. The two agencies will also work together to provide additional access to the Mohawk River to allow for fishing and other recreational activities.
Mohawk River State Park is located on River and Rosendale Roads in Niskayuna and bounded by the Mohawk River Trail. The new park has approximately 3,500 feet of frontage along the Erie Canalway trail, which parallels the Mohawk River and provides access to the river. In addition, the property has an extensive trail system. From its link to the canal trail, the lands rise steeply to the southwest where the escarpment overlooking the Mohawk River is cut by two streams. The preserve contains forest, brush lands and rich wildflower growth. Future potential recreational uses include boating, picnicking, and hiking trails.
In his 2004 State of the State Address, the Governor committed to opening five new state parks in the next two years and opening or expanding 20 parks over the next five years. Since then, the State announced new state parks with the acquisition of Robert V. Riddell State Park in Otsego and Amsterdam Beach in Montauk; the opening of Two Rivers State Park in Tioga, Jamesport State Park and Preserve in Suffolk County, Robert G. Wehle State Park in Jefferson County, and Sonnenberg Gardens and Mansion State Historic Park in Canandaigua; and the expansion of numerous sites, including Rockefeller Preserve and Fahnestock State Parks in the Hudson Valley, Delta Lake in Central New York, and Thacher and Saratoga Spa State Parks in the Capital District.
On Wednesday, Gov. Pataki announced a new State Park in Putnam and Westchester counties with the establishment of Donald J. Trump State Park, on 436 acres of land donated to the State by Trump. Together with the latest acquisition in Schenectady, these two new additions to state parkland furthers the longstanding environmental goals set by the Governor that have made New York a national leader in open space protection and natural resource stewardship. 4-20-06
© 2006 North
Country Gazette
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