Open Space Institute Protects 3,100 Acres in the Catskills

The Open Space Institute (OSI) has secured one of the last large privately owned forested parcels within the Catskill Park, acquiring more than 3,100 acres in the Town of Neversink. OSI purchased the property for $6.2 million, with support from its Delaware River Watershed Protection Fund and an anonymous foundation. The newly acquired “Blue Hill” property includes native hardwood forests, undisturbed wetlands, and nearly 20 miles of streambanks, supporting diverse wildlife and maintaining water quality in the Delaware River watershed. The ridgeline peaks, reaching elevations over 2,700 feet, offer sweeping views of the surrounding mountains.

“OSI’s conservation of the Blue Hill property is a monumental win for clean water, habitat, and recreation in the Catskills,” says Erik Kulleseid, OSI’s president and CEO. “This new acquisition is a rare find, both for its sheer size and for the wealth of benefits it provides. Over the last four decades, OSI has protected more than 25,000 acres of land within the Catskill Park, and we’re proud to continue our commitment to conserving the landscapes most vital to the health and wellbeing of people and wildlife.”

The “Blue Hill” property is adjacent to the Willowemoc Wild Forest and near the 33,500-acre Big Indian Wilderness.

The property was previously the subject of a large-scale development proposal that included housing, a resort, and commercial uses. Instead, OSI intends to transfer the land to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) as an addition to the Willowemoc Wild Forest. Once finalized, it will mark the largest expansion of the Catskill Forest Preserve in nearly 25 years.

“Partners like OSI are instrumental to helping DEC achieve the state’s ambitious goal to conserve 30 percent of New York’s lands and waters by 2030,” says DEC Acting Commissioner Amanda Lefton. “DEC prioritizes land acquisition as a critical strategy to protect New York State’s ecological assets, wildlife populations, and waterways, and we are thankful for our partnership with OSI allowing this property in the Catskills to be preserved for generations to come.”

Local officials also praised the acquisition, citing its benefits for conservation and recreation. “As a west-of-Hudson watershed town, we welcome the benefits that this purchase will provide to water quality in our watershed as well as the Delaware River watershed,” says Chris Mathews, Supervisor of the Town of Neversink. “On a personal note, I look forward to the many recreational opportunities that this will provide to the public.”

With a network of old logging roads, the site presents opportunities for future recreational use, including hiking, horseback riding, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing.

The property, located adjacent to the 14,800-acre Willowemoc Wild Forest and near the 33,500-acre Big Indian Wilderness, contributes to an expansive corridor of protected land. It offers critical habitat for songbirds such as wood thrush and hermit thrush, as well as larger mammals like black bears, fishers, and bobcats. Additionally, the land’s cold-water streams provide ideal habitat for native brook trout, an iconic species for anglers in the region.

With a network of old logging roads, the site presents opportunities for future recreational use, including hiking, horseback riding, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing. Once transferred to DEC, the land will be opened to the public under a unit management plan.