Allegany State Park Master Plan Adopted

Plan helps preserve wild character of the park

SALAMANCA, NY (07/21/2010)(readMedia)-- The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation has adopted a master plan for Allegany State Park designed to protect the natural character of the largest wilderness in western New York and enhance the traditional recreational opportunities visitors pursue at the popular facility.

"I am grateful to members of the community who took the time to attend the public meetings or offer comments on the plan," State Parks Commissioner Carol Ash said. "Their participation in the process made this master plan better, more complete and more reflective of the community that supports Allegany State Park."

The master plan outlines OPRHP's vision for potential capital improvements, operational enhancements and natural and cultural resource stewardship within Allegany State Park for the next ten to fifteen years. Factors such as the availability of funding, the need to invest in rehabilitation of existing park infrastructure, and other pressing needs in the entire state parks system will influence the sequence and timing of the improvements. The plan is available at http://www.nysparks.state.ny.us/inside-our-agency/public-documents.aspx.

"Hundreds of thousands of people visit Allegany State Park each year to explore the vast mature forest that has developed over the past century as a result of its protection as a public park," Ash added. "Throughout the master planning process, the members of the public have made it clear that they support maintaining and protecting the natural character of their park, and the master plan will help us preserve this magnificent wilderness."

The plan calls for the designation of a Park Preservation Area totaling roughly 52,000 acres, approximately 83 percent of the parkland. Within Park Preservation Areas, passive public recreation such as hiking, horse-back riding, skiing, biking, backpacking, camping, hunting, and fishing will continue as they have in the past. In the remaining developed portions of the park – which include roads, beaches, snowmobile trails, and developed campgrounds – traditional activities and operations would continue.

Other highlights of the plan include:

  • Expand options for camping by converting campsites to RV sites in the Red House area, setting aside new areas for backpacking and primitive camping, and adding new cabins;
  • Expand and improve the existing networks of hiking, mountain biking, snowmobiling trails, including creating a new 7.6 mile bikeway between Quaker Lake, Cain Hollow and Science Lake;
  • Improve boating opportunities by adding a new car top boat launch at the southern end of Quaker Lake, deepening the launch area at the existing Quaker Lake and developing a boat rental facility near the Quaker Lake beach area.

State Parks has reinstated the master planning process throughout the park system, and Allegany State Park is among the first to complete a new master plan. Park master plans define a long-term, sustainable vision for parks by helping to identify best uses for a specific site, make the most of limited resources, and protect the environment.

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees 178 state parks and 35 historic sites. For more information on any of these recreation areas, call 518-474-0456 or visit www.nysparks.com.