Each year, the Adirondack Council releases their State of the Park report, which looks at the issues impacting the park and the solutions that they want to see.
This year’s report, entitled “Strongest Together,” outlines some major victories, but shows there is more to be done to protect the “Forever Wild” Park.
One of the victories cited in the council’s annual report was approval of the $4.2 billion Environmental Bond Act.
Adirondack Council Director of Communications John Sheehan said the council would like to see funding to preserve land, protect water quality and advance municipal projects. Sheehan adds “helping [Adirondack communities] helps everybody’s water quality.”
One of the weak points in the report is that Gov. Kathy Hochul, like her predecessor, has not appointed new members of the Adirondack Park Agency. Sheehan said that has resulted in some members that have gone over their terms to be “mentally vacated” or “physically gone,” leading to issues reaching a quorum for the important agency board.
The park has seen a boom in popularity since the pandemic as people left their houses and explore the great outdoors. However, the surge in visitors has placed a toll on the small communities that make up the park. Sheehan said, “we don’t want people to stop coming” but added, “we need to be smart about how we direct them into the places they’re going to enjoy that day.”
With a new legislative session on the horizon, Sheehan said the council will be pushing for more funding for lake ecosystem and climate change preparedness programs.