October 31, 2005

Contact: Ian Michaels (718) 595-6600

New York City Offers Fall/Winter Interpretive Hikes

Commissioner Emily L. Lloyd of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced today that DEP will offer interpretive hikes at New York City watershed recreation areas on the first Saturday of each month during the fall and winter seasons.  DEP staff will lead the hikes and travel will be on foot, snowshoe, or cross-country ski as conditions allow.

“Our summer hikes are popular and give people the opportunity to learn more about the recreation areas and what we do to protect the watershed, so we thought we’d offer winter hikes also,” said Commissioner Lloyd. “There are many great areas in the watershed that are used for skiing, snowshoeing and winter hiking, and, of course, it is a different world in winter,” continued Commissioner Lloyd.  Hikers who have valid Access Permits are invited to participate. Access Permits are free, last for five years and are easy to obtain. For information on obtaining an Access Permit and other recreation opportunities, visit the DEP website at www.nyc.gov/watershedrecreation or call DEP Land Management toll-free at 1-800-575-LAND (5263).

Those interested in joining a hike this winter should call the local DEP Land Management Office specified below for more information. Hikes start at 10:00 AM and last about 4 hours. Schedule and locations are as follows:

November 5: Mink Hollow Unit, Town of Woodstock. Meet on Mink Hollow Road about1.5 miles north of the Route 212 intersection. Call 845-657-2663.

December 3: Covesville Unit, Town of Middletown. Meet on Hog Mountain Road about ¾ mile west of the Big Red Kill Road intersection. Please note that this location has changed from earlier publications. Call 607-588-6231.

January 7: East Fishkill Unit, Town of East Fishkill. Meet on Route 52 about 3 miles north of Exit 17 for Route 84. Call 845-225-8144.

February  4: South Rondout Unit, Town of Wawarsing.  Meet on Sherman Road about ¾ mile southwest of the Route 55 intersection. Call 845-985-0386.

March 4:  Flynn Brook Unit, Towns of Andes and Colchester. Meet at Pepacton Cemetery on BWS Road 6 about 3.5 miles from the intersection with County Route 1 (Tremperskill).  Call 607-363-7009.