The Middletown-based Orange County Land Trust has, to date, saved almost 4,000 acres of open space for future generations to enjoy. Using conservation easements, outright purchases, the purchase of development rights, grants and donations, the trust works to preserve the regional quality of life that businesses find so attractive.
The Land Trust held a reception to honor HVBiz publisher Dee DelBello and staff for their continued efforts to bring agricultural issues to business readers and leaders. On Wednesday, Oct. 23, DelBello was presented with the Trust”™s Louis V. Mills Conservation Communications Award.
DelBello, whose husband, Al DelBello, was county executive of Westchester when Louis V. Mills was Orange County”™s executive, told the audience, “I feel a personal attachment to the area and am very touched to receive this recognition. Even though my husband and Lou were from different political parties, they shared the same ideology about preserving open space for future generations.” Mills founded the OCLT in 1993.
The Land Trust recently purchased a former rail bed in the town of Hamptonburgh, which will become the county”™s first handicap-accessible trail. “We have visited other trails in the Adirondacks and in other states, and we”™ve learned a lot,” said Andrew Mills, who presented the award to DelBello on behalf of his father. “Now, we are fortunate to have Doug Hovey and Kara Dorsey of Independent Living to work with us to make this trail accessible not to just those who are physically disabled but to the blind, with Braille interpretations.”
The Hamptonburgh Preserve, said Hovey, will be an “ideal spot for everyone to enjoy, no matter what their handicap. The trail will lead down to the Wallkill River, and everyone will be able to enjoy nature on the interpretative trail.” The Land Trust hopes to raise enough funds to have the trail ready by summer of 2009.
To learn more, visit www.oclt.org
