Just 90 miles from New York City, you can drive an 88 mile loop around the Shawangunk Mountain Scenic Byway (SMSB). The photo on the left is the entrance to Minnewaska State Park along the Scenic Byway. The Scenic Byway committee is made up of the Chief Elected Official of each of the nine towns and two of the villages along the byway. The only non-governmental organization with a representative is Mohonk Preserve's, Ellen M. Sticker, Executive Projects Manager.
The Mohonk Preserve Testimonial Gateway Project is along State Route 299, the main artery in and out of the Village of New Paltz and is linked to the River to RIdge Project proposed by OSI. Both projects are along the Scenic Byway for a total of three parking lots. Four if you include the already installed parking lot at the Samuel F. Prior III Gateway Campground. And five, six, and seven if you include the Mohonk Preserve Visitors center, stairmaster parking lot and West Trapps parking lot. "Funding for the web site (SMSB) was provided by grants awarded to the NYS Scenic Byways Program through the Federal Highway Administration's National Scenic Byways Program and by the NYS Department of Economic Development arranged by State Senator John J. Bonacic." Al Wegener is the Executive Director of the SMSB and is paid by the Mohonk Preserve. |
Traffic
Minnewaska State Park entrance along State Route 44/55.
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Poaching
Intersection of Clove Road and State 44/55. Five hundred feet from the fee collection booth for the Mohonk Preserve.
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Trespassing
More often than not, when someone parks on the side of the road, they have no idea who's land they are on. The most common excuse is, "I thought I was on the Mohonk Preserve."
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Take action and sign the petition for NYS Attorney General to investigate Fink and Pardini's complaint against the Mohonk Preserve, Friends of the Shawangunks and the Shawangunk Conservancy.