Rockland County Revives Land Preservation Program With Purchases

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY — Rockland County has purchased the first properties for preservation under its Open Space Acquisition Program since the program was revived in 2020.

Officials, neighbors and property owners made the announcement Tuesday morning in a news conference at Haverstraw Bay Park, which was built from the first property purchased under the program, back in 1999.

One of the new properties being preserved is the old Davies Farm at 20 New Valley Road in New City, purchased for $4 million. "This piece of land has been in my family for generations," Scott Milich said at the event.

Milich said he hoped their decision to preserve instead of develop the property would inspire others to play their own small part in a larger effort. "Our family believes that preserving natural spaces is crucial for the health of our community and our planet."

The second and third are the Gordon properties at 1015 and 1019 Route 45 in Pomona. The 12 acres, purchased for $1.39 million, were due to be rezoned by the town of Ramapo to light commercial, according to the nomination by Bob Trostle.

Edmund Gordon, 104, was unable to attend the press conference.

"In 1950, hundreds of farms sprawled across more than 17,000 acres," County Executive Ed Day said. "Today things have changed. We have a handful left with 400 acres. And only 4 percent of that land remains to be developed or protected."

His administration is doing what it can to preserve more land in tandem with the County Legislature, he said.

County Legislature Chairman Jay Hood said a lot of credit should go to Legislator Harriet Cornell.

"It's very exciting to use funds in a way that gives back to the people," Hood said.

The county solicited nominations and then had prospects vetted by an advisory committee, Day said. They received scores based on criteria including protection of water bodies and the watershed. He said he hopes three more will be purchased by the end of the year adding another 24 acres.

Neighbors of the Davies Farm began fighting against possible development in the 1990s, Day said.

"We are so thrilled, the people in the neighborhood, that this space is being acquired as a passive park. it is a win-win for our association, for the neighborhood, for the Milich family," said Cora Bodkin from the South Little Tor Civic Association.

Trostle, in the nomination statement Day read at the event, suggested that "perhaps Rockland County can save the 75-acre Striker property and its walking trails."

"We'll take it under advisement," said Day.