Making money off the Catskills; CCCD sets economic forum
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| Castle Point, in the nearby Ulster County parklands of the Shawangunk Ridge, is representative of one type of landscape that brings visitors -- and money -- to the area. (Contributed photo) |
By Jim Planck
Hudson-Catskill Newspapers
It’s no secret that the Catskill Park Forest Preserve brings people to the area for outdoor recreation, to greater and lesser degree, during every season of the year.
And the economic benefits of having open space and parkland are always mentioned when the interests of municipalities, developers and environmentalists coincide in anything from a review at a planning board meeting to a community visioning workshop held to focus on the future.
It’s also no secret that it’s hard to get a specific grasp on exactly what should or should not be done to use parkland to improve a community’s economic health.
That answer, however, will be provided by the Arkville-based Catskill Center for Conservation and Development on Friday, Feb. 18, 1:30 p.m., at the Ashokan Center, in the Central Catskills community of Olivebridge.
The presentation -- “Economic Benefits of Parkland,” and which includes a group discussion -- is conducted in conjunction with Catskill Mountainkeeper and Catskill Heritage Alliance, with the three groups acting together in partnership as Catskill Cornucopia.
CCCD spokesperson Jonathan Mogelever said Friday the session offers an excellent opportunity to learn about parkland economics.
“Research in the Adirondack and Shawangunk Mountains,” said Mogelever, “shows that public lands are clearly beneficial to the economic health of local communities.”
“Learn how we in the Catskills can adopt the lessons of important studies from the experts who conducted them,” he said.
Those experts are Kenneth Strike, author of “Adirondack Park Regional Assessment Plan: An Appraisal,” and Brian Zweig, who conducted the “Study of the Economic Impact on the Local Economy of Minnewaska State Park Preserve, Mohonk Preserve, and Sam’s Point Preserve.”
Of the latter, Mohonk Preserve Executive Director Glenn Hoagland noted that it “provided clear, objective data on how public lands impact the economies of municipalities in and around the Shawangunks.”
“There is great value for other regions -- such as the Catskills,” said Hoagland, “to observe from this project.”
Mogelever also stressed the value of the upcoming presentation’s content.
“We are delighted,” he said, “to have (Strike and Zweig) here to discuss the economic impacts of public lands on communities, how these impacts are calculated, what the actual benefits are, and the questions to focus on when considering how public lands help strengthen local economies.”
And the economic benefits of having open space and parkland are always mentioned when the interests of municipalities, developers and environmentalists coincide in anything from a review at a planning board meeting to a community visioning workshop held to focus on the future.
It’s also no secret that it’s hard to get a specific grasp on exactly what should or should not be done to use parkland to improve a community’s economic health.
That answer, however, will be provided by the Arkville-based Catskill Center for Conservation and Development on Friday, Feb. 18, 1:30 p.m., at the Ashokan Center, in the Central Catskills community of Olivebridge.
The presentation -- “Economic Benefits of Parkland,” and which includes a group discussion -- is conducted in conjunction with Catskill Mountainkeeper and Catskill Heritage Alliance, with the three groups acting together in partnership as Catskill Cornucopia.
CCCD spokesperson Jonathan Mogelever said Friday the session offers an excellent opportunity to learn about parkland economics.
“Research in the Adirondack and Shawangunk Mountains,” said Mogelever, “shows that public lands are clearly beneficial to the economic health of local communities.”
“Learn how we in the Catskills can adopt the lessons of important studies from the experts who conducted them,” he said.
Those experts are Kenneth Strike, author of “Adirondack Park Regional Assessment Plan: An Appraisal,” and Brian Zweig, who conducted the “Study of the Economic Impact on the Local Economy of Minnewaska State Park Preserve, Mohonk Preserve, and Sam’s Point Preserve.”
Of the latter, Mohonk Preserve Executive Director Glenn Hoagland noted that it “provided clear, objective data on how public lands impact the economies of municipalities in and around the Shawangunks.”
“There is great value for other regions -- such as the Catskills,” said Hoagland, “to observe from this project.”
Mogelever also stressed the value of the upcoming presentation’s content.
“We are delighted,” he said, “to have (Strike and Zweig) here to discuss the economic impacts of public lands on communities, how these impacts are calculated, what the actual benefits are, and the questions to focus on when considering how public lands help strengthen local economies.”
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