A significant stretch of open land on New York’s Shawangunk Ridge will remain permanently protected following the completion of a conservation easement finalized in December 2025, the Wallkill Valley Land Trust announced. The measure safeguards 108 acres formerly held by Shawangunk Conglomerate Ltd (SCL), adding to ongoing regional efforts to conserve the Ridge’s scenic, ecological, and recreational values.
The easement, now held by the New Paltz-based Wallkill Valley Land Trust, ensures that the land’s forests, clifflines, wetlands, and viewsheds will be preserved in perpetuity. It also reinforces protection of a portion of the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail corridor that passes through the parcel.
The property lies just north of Bonticou Crag and borders existing conserved lands, filling a critical gap in the broader protected landscape. For decades, the Ridge’s dramatic cliffs and woodlands have drawn hikers, climbers, and nature enthusiasts, while also supporting wildlife habitat and watershed protection.
A Long Conservation Arc
The story of this easement stretches back to 1958, when a group of friends from the City College of New York Outdoor Club began seeking land for shared stewardship. By 1979, that group—organized as Shawangunk Conglomerate Ltd—had bought a roughly 200-acre parcel in Ulster County. Even before conservation easements were common in the region, the group purposefully clustered homes on small lots and left most of the land undeveloped, fostering decades of informal stewardship.
Over time, conservation partners eyed the property for formal protection. A portion of the SCL holdings—72 acres on the parcel’s western side—was acquired by Mohonk Preserve with support from the Shawangunk Conservancy. The recent conservation easement with Wallkill Valley Land Trust covers the remaining 108 acres.
“This project demonstrates what is possible when private landowners, conservation organizations, and community supporters share a long-term vision,” says Christie DeBoer, executive director of the Wallkill Valley Land Trust. “We are honored to hold this easement and to help ensure that these lands remain wild, scenic, and cared for in perpetuity.”
David M. Clark, president of Shawangunk Conglomerate Ltd, reflected on the group’s decades-long commitment to conservation, noting that the agreement ensures the founders’ original intention—to protect the land’s natural character—will continue for generations. “Over 40 years ago the SCL founders originally came upon this beautiful parcel when undeveloped land was easily available,” Clark says. “We used 15-acres at its center for a cluster of residential lots, donated 5-acres to the DEC for a public boat launch and kept the remaining 180-acres undisturbed for the vast array of life forms residing there that accepted us as frequent guests. We have held to this plan ever since, raising our families here while protecting the natural environment surrounding us.”
Strategic and Community Benefits
The easement expands the Wallkill Valley Land Trust’s portfolio to more than 3,000 acres of permanently protected land across the region. In addition to preserving scenic views and critical habitat, it helps secure continuity in the recreational trail network used by walkers, cyclists, and outdoor enthusiasts.
The Wallkill Valley Rail Trail, a 23.7-mile multi-use corridor that runs from Gardiner to Kingston, is a particularly valued community asset that benefits from the easement’s protections.
Land trusts and conservation advocates say the project underscores the power of long-term collaboration among private landowners and nonprofit partners to secure important open spaces in the Hudson Valley and beyond.
