Catskill Center Applauds Governor Hochul’s Continued Commitment to the Environmental Protection Fund
The Catskill Center applauds Governor Hochul for her Executive Budget Proposal that maintains the Environmental Protection Fund at a historic $425 million, including $8 million in dedicated Forest Preserve stewardship funding for the Adirondacks and Catskills, $250,000 for the Congressman Maurice D. Hinchey Catskills Visitor Center, and $200,000 for the Catskill Science Collaborative. This level of investment keeps New York on a path of sustained, strategic support for clean water, healthy forests, and resilient rural communities that depend on these lands.
“New York’s ongoing investment in environmental protection sends a powerful message to everyone who cares about the Catskills and Adirondacks,” said Jeff Senterman, Executive Director of the Catskill Center. “When the state stands behind the Forest Preserve, it is standing behind clean drinking water for millions of New Yorkers, main streets that depend on a strong outdoor recreation economy, and communities that are working hard to welcome visitors while keeping these places wild and resilient. This kind of commitment gives all of us—the state, partners, and local residents—the resources we need to do the on‑the‑ground work that keeps the Catskills thriving today and safeguards them for the future.”
For the Catskills, dedicated Forest Preserve stewardship funding is what translates policy and report recommendations into real progress on the ground: safer, more sustainable trails; trained Stewards at high‑use destinations; robust scientific research and monitoring; implementation of active visitor use management strategies; and the continued operation of the Catskills Visitor Center as a year‑round gateway to responsible recreation, local economies, and community life. These resources help ensure that growing visitation, climate pressures, and the needs of small towns are met with education, careful management, and respect for the Forever Wild protections that make this region unique.
The budget continues NY Works capital funding for the Department of Environmental Conservation and the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, which supports the recreation infrastructure and public access that connect people to the outdoors across New York State. Paired with the Environmental Protection Fund, these capital investments allow critical facilities, trailheads, and visitor amenities in the Catskill Park and beyond to be maintained and improved, so that public lands remain welcoming, safe, and sustainable for everyone.
For more than fifty five years, the Catskill Center has led advocacy for strong, consistent Forest Preserve and Catskill Park funding, helping secure record stewardship investments that benefit both the Catskills and Adirondacks. This Executive Budget once again recognizes that the future of these landscapes, and the communities that call them home, depends on ongoing, collaborative commitment, and the Catskill Center looks forward to working with the Governor, Assembly, and Senate to ensure these priorities are fully reflected in the final state budget.
