Woodlawn Preserve
Woodlawn Preserve | |
---|---|
Location | Schenectady, New York |
Coordinates | 42°46′04″N 73°54′37″W / 42.76768°N 73.91037°W |
Area | 135 acres (55 ha) |
Established | 1969 |
The Woodlawn Preserve is a patch of the
Description
The low-lying areas of the preserve are
History
The preserve was created by the city in 1969 as 135 acres (55 ha) of
The city has been repeatedly approached by developers seeking to purchase the land for housing developments. In 1993 88 acres (36 ha) were requested, with an extra 27 acres (11 ha) to be developed as a park.[6] This raised an outcry by the Concerned Citizens to Save the Woodlawn Preserve organization, which argued that such development contradicted the intent and purpose of establishing a nature preserve.[6] In 2003 the Forever Wild status was still intact on the 135 acres (0.55 km2) but was again threatened by another offer of $196,000 for 196 plots.[4]
A Quality Communities Grant was awarded to Schenectady in 2007 to promote the "preservation and beautification" of the Preserve. This coincided with the Preserve being added to the New York Open Space Conservation Plan.[7] In 2008, a five-year plan was developed between the city and the state to organize the improvement of the Preserve.[8]
In 2009, Schenectady County created 24 acres (9.7 ha) of protected parkland in Niskayuna within the Woodlawn Pine Barrens-Wetlands Complex, which was then deeded to the town. This was considered an important step in linking the Woodlawn Preserve and the Albany Pine Bush Preserve.[9]
See also
Other notable pine barrens
- Long Island Central Pine Barrens
- Rome Sand Plains
- Pine Barrens (New Jersey)
References
- ^ Patterson, Jennifer (2007-01-25). "Grant to Aid Woodlawn Preserve". Times Union (Albany). Hearst Corporation. p. B3. Retrieved 2010-08-21.
- ^ a b "Speak Out for Pine Bush Preservation". Save the Pine Bush. 2008-01-12. Retrieved 2010-08-21.
- ^ "2009 NYS Open Space Conservation Plan" (PDF). State of New York Department of Environmental Conservation. Retrieved 2010-08-21.
- ^ a b Goodwin, Mike (2003-07-15). "Plan to Use 'Forever Wild' Draws Fire". Times Union (Albany). Hearst Corporation. p. B8. Retrieved 2010-08-21.
- ^ City of Schenectady Comprehensive Plan 2020 (PDF), City of Schenectady, 2008-04-28, p. 8
- ^ a b Fitzpatrick, Edward (1993-07-20). "Woodlawn 'public' land OK'd for housing". The Daily Gazette. p. B1. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
- ^ "Schenectady Wins State Grant for Woodlawn Preserve" (PDF). Office of the Mayor, City of Schenectady, New York. 2007-01-19. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
- ^ Schenectady County Environmental Advisory Council (February 2008). "2007 State of the Environment and Annual Report - Environmental Advisory Council". Schenectady County, New York. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
- ^ "Schenectady County Legislature Creates Parkland in Niskayuna". Schenectady County eNews. Vol. 2, no. 3. Schenectady County, New York. July 2009. p. 3. Archived from the original on 2010-11-28. Retrieved 2013-11-06.