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The Nature Conservancy To Hold Public Meeting on Sam’s Point Preserve Master Plan

Cragsmoor, NY — July 2, 2009 — The Nature Conservancy announced today that it will hold a public information meeting to discuss the draft Master Plan for Sam’s Point Preserve.

The meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 21st at 7 PM at the Sam’s Point Conservation Center in Cragsmoor, NY.

The draft Master Plan can be downloaded here (.pdf, 3MB) or at nature.org/samspoint, or hard copies are available for review at the Cragsmoor, Ellenville, and the New Paltz Libraries.

The approximately 5,000 acre Sam’s Point Preserve is owned by the Open Space Conservancy and the Palisades Interstate Park Commission, and is managed by The Nature Conservancy.

The Preserve’s Master Plan, originally written in 2001, has been updated to include new information and was prepared by The Nature Conservancy in consultation with the Sam’s Point Advisory Council – a volunteer advisory committee made up of park management professionals, recreational and open space advocates, and citizen representatives of Cragsmoor and Ellenville. 

At the highest point along the Shawangunk Ridge, Sam’s Point Preserve is known for its stunning vistas, wilderness character and distinctive habitats and wildlife, including its globally rare pitch pine barrens. The Preserve is open to the public seven days a week year round and is popular with hikers, bird-watchers, photographers, skiers and other outdoor enthusiasts.

“The Master Plan provides a roadmap for stewardship of the Preserve and guidelines for recreational use, which will enable us to protect and manage the Preserve while providing a unique experience for visitors”, said Cara Lee, director of the Conservancys’s Shawangunk Ridge Program. “We are proud to work with the Open Space Institute, Minnewaska State Park Preserve, Palisades Interstate Park Commission, our neighbors and other partners along the Ridge to protect the unique resources of the Shawangunks,” she added.

The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. The Conservancy and its more than 1 million members have protected nearly 120 million acres worldwide. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at www.nature.org.