| | | OSI Leads Major Catskill Preserve Expansion
The Open Space Institute is celebrating a “Golden” era for conservation in New York’s Catskill Forest Preserve with the permanent protection of 915 breathtaking acres—the largest expansion to the Preserve in almost 15 years. OSI worked with the Golden family to conserve the land in 2019. Now transferred to New York State, the property safeguards sources of clean drinking water for millions, is home to vital wildlife habitat, and improves public access to nature, including a potential new route to the Ashokan High Point, the highest peak in the area. Significantly, this project also marks the state’s first land acquisition using funding from New York's recently approved Environmental Bond Act. To date, OSI has saved nearly 25,000 acres in the Catskill Region.
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| | | Moving Toward a Greener Future in New Jersey
OSI recently joined Governor Phil Murphy and partners to break ground on the first phase of the New Jersey Greenway. OSI orchestrated the state’s acquisition of the former rail line, setting the stage for the creation of New Jersey’s newest state park—a nine-mile linear park that will connect people to nature and the outdoors in one of the nation’s most densely populated regions. |
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| | | | A 2,500 Acre Conservation Win in Pennsylvania
OSI and Wildlands Conservancy have announced the permanent protection of more than 2,500 acres of forestland around Mud Run Creek in Carbon County, Pennsylvania, in a move that saves clean drinking water for 200,000 people and bolsters a climate-resilient corridor for wildlife. Funded by OSI’s Delaware River Watershed Protection Fund, the project safeguards land against future threats to the Lehigh River watershed. |
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| | | | Saving a Barrier Island, Protecting a Coastal Community
Together with a generous local family, OSI has conserved 600 acres on and around South Carolina’s Waties Island—preserving rare habitat and supporting the island’s ability to shield nearby North Myrtle Beach from storms and flooding. A recent article in South Carolina’s largest daily newspaper explores OSI’s work, and the exciting possibility of a new state park and heritage preserve on the newly protected lands. |
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| | | | MacNaughton Cottage Renovation Wins Top Preservation Honor
OSI’s restoration of historic MacNaughton Cottage is being honored by Adirondack Architectural Preservation. Located at OSI’s Upper Works property, the nearly 200-year-old cottage has a rich history that includes major local and national events. Once on the brink of collapse, the revitalized structure will now greet visitors at an especially beautiful part of the Adirondack High Peaks Region. The MacNaughton revival underscores how OSI’s conservation work protects more than land by inviting new generations to explore and connect with the past. |
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| | | | New OSI Report: Protecting Land for Clean Water
Drawing on expertise gained from its Delaware River Watershed Protection Fund, OSI has published a new report on the critical role forests play in preventing water pollution. The study examines programs funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and offers valuable examples for local, regional, and state-level efforts to maintain and improve water quality. |
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