Rockland County and the Open Space Institute (OSI) have announced that the county has assembled two parcels of land acquired by OSI along with a third parcel of land acquired by the county to create a 236-acre area that will be protected from development. The parcel is known as the Eagle Valley Assemblage, which is the same name OSI gave to the two parcels it purchased.
OSI’s original Eagle Valley Assemblage was comprised of an 87-acre Eagle Valley property, which OSI purchased on March 14, 2024, for $1,600,000; and the 45-acre Cherso Realty property, which OSI purchased on May 17, 2024, for $1,275,000.
OSI made the land purchases as a conservation project, located in the corridor between Sterling Forest and Harriman State Parks, that it said was designed to enhance regional recreational opportunities and protect critical drinking water resources in an area facing heavy development pressure.
The county and OSI announcement event was held at the Valley Rock Inn, a restaurant and event venue that neighbors the Eagle Valley Assemblage.
“This is a historic win for Rockland County,” said County Executive Ed Day. “The Eagle Valley property is a rare, undeveloped parcel of this size and will protect water resources, preserve wildlife habitats, and provide new opportunities for recreation.”
The county is exploring opportunities for the site, including the creation of a new county park and expanded trail connections.
Kevin McGuinness of the county’s Division of Environmental Resources said, “This will be our first new completely standalone park in over 25 years. It’s believed to be one of the largest remaining undeveloped parcels in Rockland County. The vision of working with the Palisades Interstate Park Commission is to connect it to the west to Sterling Forest, through … the Liberty Rock Park and to Harriman State Park, connecting all of those properties which will be of terrific value to the … residents of New York state and of the whole region.”
According to Erik Kulleseid, president and CEO of OSI “This isn’t just about protecting land—it’s about safeguarding the integrity of local water sources and creating connections that provide lasting benefits for people and wildlife. OSI is thrilled to lend our land conservation expertise towards a project that will enable visitors to effortlessly explore the natural beauty of the area while preserving the clean water for generations to come.”
The acquisition was made possible with the support of a $2.74 million Highlands Conservation Act grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The grant, secured with assistance from New York State Parks, will be returned to the County’s Open Space Acquisition Fund, ensuring more land can be preserved.
“The opportunity to protect land at this scale in Rockland County is extraordinarily rare,” Day said. “This acquisition represents the power of collaboration — between government agencies, environmental organizations, and the residents who first nominate properties for review. Together, we are leaving a legacy of preservation that will benefit Rocklanders for generations to come.”
Rockland’s Open Space Acquisition Program was started in 1999 by former County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef. The program was suspended in 2010 during the national recession but was revived in 2019 and has resulted in the preservation of more than 302 acres of land including the Eagle Valley Assemblage.
