ALBANY, NY — Catskill Mountainkeeper and its allies at the Catskill Park Coalition will be meeting with New York’s legislative leaders, senators and assembly members and key regulatory staff on Tuesday, February 5 to make a case for funding in the region.

The groups will be asking for state investment in the park and stewardship activities, smart growth grants for towns and cities in the state, Department of Environmental Conservation and Forest Ranger staff to safeguard parks and forests, resources to fight the invasive hemlock woolly adelgid bug and green infrastructure funding. The groups will also be asking that the state support the Maurice D. Hinchey Catskill Interpretive Center, a visitor center for the Catskill Park; upgrades to Belleayare Mountain that are not related to the ongoing resort expansion; new funding for the scenic byways and a mountain biking plan in Shandaken, NY.

The groups are asking Catskill residents to attend the legislative session to promote the importance of the Catskills and advocate for this funding. The session will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Legislative Office Building in Albany on the third floor terrace. Email beth@catskilllmountainkeeper.org for more information.