New City, NY – Rockland County Executive Ed Day and Rockland County Legislature Chairman Jay Hood Jr. have jointly announced the acquisition and preservation of two additional parcels of land under the County’s Open Space Acquisition Program, which was revitalized in 2020.
These newly acquired parcels, located at 176 and 180 South Mountain Road in New City, encompassing a total of 14 acres, have been safeguarded from development. The County’s intention is to maintain this land as open space, with the potential for future hiking trail development.
County Executive Ed Day remarked, “This acquisition adds to the 25 acres of protected land in 2023. With increased funding for our Open Space Acquisition Program, we can ensure that more acreage will be preserved.”
Legislative Chair Jay Hood Jr. expressed excitement about using funds to benefit the community, stating, “We are thrilled to save additional property from development for our residents.”
In total, 16 properties, comprising 23 lots, were nominated for preservation. Following committee recommendations, the County opted to acquire the four highest-rated properties out of the six recommended for acquisition. An additional 10 acres are expected to be preserved in the final round of Open Space Acquisition nominations, not including the nominations received in 2023. The selection process involves the evaluation of each property’s attributes, such as connecting open spaces, protecting the environment, preserving historical sites, and promoting recreational opportunities. These properties are then rated by an Open Space Advisory Committee, which includes representatives from various County departments. Finally, the top-rated properties are presented for review and acquisition approval by the County Executive’s team based on the committee’s ratings.