Open space preserved along New City's South Mountain Road

Three properties on South Mountain Road in New City have been purchased and preserved under Rockland County’s Open Space Acquisition Program. 

The properties include:

• 61 South Mountain Road, 5 acres
• 63 South Mountain Road, 5.8 acres
• and 71 South Mountain Road, 4 acres

These acquisitions add 15 acres to South Mountain County Park, a linear 240-acre park running between Central Highway in New City to Route 45 in Pomona, and also will provide another new access point to the park and the Long Path.

All properties nominated to Open Space are vetted by an Open Space Advisory Committee made up of representatives from the Division of Environmental Resources, Department of Planning, Department of Health, and the Finance Department’s Tax Enforcement Unit. Field inspections are then performed, and each property is scored using a point system based on their attributes which include:

Connecting open spaces, preserving environmentally sensitive resources, protecting farms, preserving historic and cultural places, protecting the Hudson River, promoting opportunities for recreation, protecting rivers and streams, and protecting the watershed.

Once scored the top-rated properties are presented to the county executive’s team to review and decide which parcels to purchase based on the Advisory Committee ratings.

Those properties are then sent to the Rockland County Legislature for funding approval.

“These purchases are an incredible addition to the 40 acres already purchased since last year," Rockland County Executive Ed Day stated.  "Let’s not forget the 132 acres known as the Eagle Valley Assemblage that my administration is also in the process of purchasing from the Open Space Institute, all of which I am proud of.”

Patch of prickly cactus, native to New York, found in South Mountain County Park. Photo: County of Rockland

“These properties are significant acquisitions that I am excited to preserve and add to the County parks,” said Kevin McGuinness, coordinator of the county’s Division of Environmental Resources. “The plan is to put a small parking area and trail head at 71 South Mountain Road. In addition, two new trails will be constructed east and west to connect to the Long Path.”

Robert Brum is a freelance journalist who writes about the Hudson Valley. Contact him and read his work at robertbrum.com.