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37-643: After the New York State Park Commission was first created in 1902, New York State Police had responsibility for patrolling parks and parkways. In 1946, Long Island State Park Commission President Robert Moses created the Long Island State Park Police Department to patrol Long Island’s parks. Throughout its existence, the force was strongly identified with Moses, the so-called "master builder," and provided his chauffeurs and bodyguards. In 1950,

74-606: A dock built for steamboat excursion traffic; the following year a new West Shore Railroad station was built near the dock. In 1912, a replica of Henry Hudson 's ship, the Half Moon was built and moored at the dock. Major William A. Welch was hired as Chief Engineer, whose work for the park would win him recognition as the father of the state park movement (and later, the national park movement). The park opened in June 1913. Steamboats alone brought more than 22,000 passengers to

111-554: A dozen wealthy contributors including John D. Rockefeller and J. Pierpont Morgan . New York State appropriated a matching $ 2.5 million and the state of New Jersey appropriated $ 500,000 to build the Henry Hudson Drive, (which would be succeeded by the Palisades Interstate Parkway in 1947). Bear Mountain-Harriman State Park became a reality the following year when the prison was demolished and

148-905: Is on the eastern edge in the Hudson River . The park is a separate entity from the adjacent Harriman State Park , which runs along the western edge of the park. It lies within the Northeastern coastal forests ecoregion . During the American Revolution , when the British viewed control of the Hudson River as essential to dominating the American territories, the area that was to become the park saw several significant military engagements. In 1777, British troops routed Patriots at Fort Montgomery . Anthony Wayne 's attack of

185-597: The Civil Works Administration and the Works Progress Administration spent five years on projects at the park. Pump houses , reservoirs , sewer systems, vacation lodges, bathrooms, homes for park staff, storage buildings and an administration building were all created through these programs. The park continued to grow after its creation. The Palisades Interstate Park Commission began purchasing nearby Doodletown in

222-558: The Hudson Palisades from the damaging effects of quarrying resulted in the creation of a number of state parks in the 1910s and 1920s, including Bear Mountain State Park and Harriman State Park . Throughout these early acquisitions, the state lacked a formal statewide agency or organization to coordinate management and development of state parks. Instead, parks were managed by independent regional commissions, such as

259-631: The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation , which was tasked with all responsibilities of the former Conservation Department, with the exception of managing the state's parks and historic sites outside of the Forest Preserve. The former Division of Parks was upgraded to become an independent agency, known as the New York State Office of Parks and Recreation . Legislation enacted in 1972 gave

296-655: The Palisades Interstate Park Commission , or by organizations such as the American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society . To address the need for statewide coordination, the New York State Council of Parks was created by legislation adopted on April 18, 1924. The council served to plan development and set standard policies for all New York state-owned parks, reservations, and historic sites that were not under

333-643: The Temporary Emergency Relief Administration , Civilian Conservation Corps , Civil Works Administration , and Works Progress Administration cleared woodlands, performed maintenance tasks, and built roads, trails, golf courses, buildings, and furniture for New York's parks through the 1930s and early 1940s. As the Depression came to a close with the United States joining World War II in 1941, New York State

370-636: The 1920s and completed the acquisition with eminent domain in the 1960s. Originally completed in 1915, the Bear Mountain Inn is an early example of the rustic lodge style influenced by the Adirondack Great Camps and later used extensively in the National Park System . It closed in 2005 for extended renovations, reopening in 2011. The Perkins Memorial Drive is a scenic road to the summit of Bear Mountain. At

407-578: The Bear Mountain Circle , where the historic Palisades Interstate Parkway and Bear Mountain Bridge meet. It is managed by the Palisades Interstate Park Commission , which is overseen by the State of New York . The park includes Bear Mountain as well as Dunderberg Mountain and West Mountain. Fort Montgomery is adjacent to the north edge of the park, while Iona Island Bird Sanctuary

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444-603: The British fort at Stony Point moved colonial troops to the west of Bear Mountain. In 1908 the State of New York announced plans to relocate Sing Sing Prison to Bear Mountain. Work was begun in the area near Highland Lake (renamed Hessian Lake) and in January 1909, the state purchased the 740-acre (3.0 km ) Bear Mountain tract. Conservationists inspired by the work of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission lobbied successfully for

481-723: The Conservation Commission and the American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society. Prior to the creation of the Division of Parks (see below ), the State Council of Parks was the highest-level organization overseeing park management in the state. Although it later became an advisory body, the council continues to this day, known officially as the New York State Council of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation . It includes representatives from

518-480: The Division of Parks. The council was also at this time given the additional responsibility of planning highway improvements to enable access to park facilities. Although the Great Depression of the 1930s reduced available funding for New York's state parks, the period was a time of development of existing parks' facilities. Construction teams comprising workers employed through federal programs such as

555-538: The Forest Preserve. Increased funding for parks made available in the 1960s did allow for the purchase of several large tracts throughout the state for parkland development. The state also began at this time to expand into new areas, such as an increase in boating facilities and establishment of parks within New York City . A major shift in New York's park management came in 1970 with legislation that created

592-922: The Long Island State Parkway Police were given the option of transferring to either the State Police or the State Park Police. Headquartered at Belmont Lake State Park in North Babylon, the New York State Park Police currently patrols 25,000 acres (101 km) of parkland in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. During the existence of the Long Island State Parkway Police Department, two officers died in

629-564: The New York State Board for Historic Preservation) was created to help guide their management. New York's park system continued expansion after World War II ended. The creation or completion of various parkways in the state, such as the Palisades Interstate Parkway and Lake Ontario Parkway , received priority during the 1950s. As visitation to New York's state parks increased following the war, new lands were sought for state parks, including unsuccessful attempts to expand into

666-538: The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (NYS OPRHP) was created in 1970; however, the history of state parks and historic sites in New York stretches back to the latter part of the 19th century. Management of state-owned parks, and guidance for the entire state park system, was accomplished by various regional commissions, private organizations, statewide advisory councils, and divisions within other state agencies prior to

703-606: The United States. The ski jumps have not been used since 1990. There are over 50 official trails covering 235 miles (378 km), featuring a wide range of difficulties and elevation changes. The first section of the Appalachian Trail , taking hikers from Bear Mountain south to the Delaware Water Gap , opened on October 7, 1923 and served as a pattern for the other sections of the trail developed independently by local and regional organizations and later by

740-545: The agency direct control of New York's park lands, with the State Council of Parks and regional commissions retaining an advisory role in management. The agency's name was updated in 1981 to its current form, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (NYS OPRHP). The state park system underwent a period of rapid expansion during former governor George Pataki 's administration. Between 1995 and 2007, Pataki, along with then-parks commissioner Bernadette Castro , opened 28 new state parks. Although

777-735: The authority of the New York State Conservation Commission (which notably included those lands that comprised the Forest Preserve in the Adirondacks and Catskills ). Its formation was supported by governor Alfred E. Smith and based on plans by Robert Moses , who became the council's first commissioner; Moses would remain in charge of the council until 1963. The council initially included representatives from regional park commissions and other organizations involved in park management, including

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814-611: The creation of the Highlands of the Hudson Forest Preserve, stopping the prison from being built. Mary Averell Harriman , whose husband, Union Pacific Railroad president E. H. Harriman died in September of that year, offered the state another 10,000 acres (40 km ) and one million dollars toward the creation of a state park. George W. Perkins, with whom she had been working, raised another $ 1.5 million from

851-497: The establishment of NYS OPRHP, which grew from the framework created by these earlier organizations. State-level procurement and management of parks in New York began in 1883, when then-governor Grover Cleveland signed legislation authorizing the appropriation of lands near Niagara Falls for a "state reservation". Two years later, the Niagara Reservation, known today as Niagara Falls State Park , opened to

888-642: The federal government. The Bear Mountain Zoo, through which the Appalachian Trail passes, is the lowest elevation on the 2,100-mile (3,400 km) trail. There are six miles (9.7 km) of the AT located in the park. In 2010, sections of the AT within the park were rebuilt by the New York - New Jersey Trail Conference , with stone steps to handle the 500,000 annual hikers. The Manhattan skyline can be seen from

925-511: The following departments and commissions as of 2014: A reorganization of New York's state government took place in 1926, which resulted in the creation of the New York State Conservation Department. The newly formed Conservation Department included a Division of Parks which assumed responsibility for management of New York's parks and historic sites. The Council of Parks continued as a constituent unit of

962-465: The former site of Fort Clinton . Its name is a reference to the Appalachian Trail that runs through the complex. The zoo began as a bear den in 1926 and is currently the home of a wide variety of local injured or rehabilitating animals, including bears, otters, deer, bald eagles, and owls. The zoo's popular otter died in June 2013, aged 19 years. The Reptile and Amphibian House has many species of fish, turtles, snakes and frogs. The Nature Study Museum

999-804: The governor was lauded as a conservationist for his actions, the new parks increased financial burdens on the NYS ;OPRHP, whose funding for operations remained steady. In 2010, a statewide fiscal crisis led to an announcement that 55 state parks and historic sites would be closed. The threatened closures were eventually averted, with budget shortfalls made up through reduced staffing and hours at many parks, closure of some internal facilities such as campgrounds and golf courses, and increases in user fees. The 2010 fiscal crisis resulted in decreased availability of funds for maintenance and upkeep at New York's parks. To help address an estimated $ 1 billion in needed repairs, $ 143 million in funds were made available in 2012;

1036-779: The line of duty. New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation ( NYS OPRHP ) is a state agency within the New York State Executive Department charged with the operation of state parks and historic sites within the U.S. state of New York . As of 2014, the NYS OPRHP manages nearly 335,000 acres (523 sq mi; 1,360 km ) of public lands and facilities, including 180 state parks and 35 historic sites, that are visited by over 78 million visitors each year. The agency that would become

1073-501: The money came from a combination of state, federal, and private grant sources. Sustained funding for repairs was announced in 2015, with the state planning to spend $ 900 million by 2020 at parks and historic sites throughout the state. As of 2014, the NYS OPRHP administered: Bear Mountain State Park Bear Mountain State Park is a 5,205-acre (21.06 km ) state park located on

1110-632: The name of the agency was changed to the Long Island State Parkway Police to reflect its added responsibility of patrolling the parkways in addition to the parks. In 1980, with Moses's power broken, the New York State legislature passed legislation giving the New York State Police responsibility for the state parkways, while the New York State Park Police maintained responsibility for the parks. Officers of

1147-482: The park that year. Camping at Hessian Lake (and later at Lake Stahahe) was immensely popular; the average stay was eight days and was a favorite for Boy Scouts . By 1914 it was estimated that more than a million people a year were coming to the park. In the 1930s the federal government under Franklin D. Roosevelt was developing plans to preserve the environment as part of the Depression -era public works programs;

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1184-836: The public. The park is claimed to be the oldest state park in the United States, and was the first established via eminent domain . The State Reservation on the St. Lawrence was authorized in 1896. By 1898, it included modest state holdings in the Thousand Islands region of New York. During the early 20th century, the state continued to expand its public parks system with several large additions, including Letchworth State Park in 1906, Fire Island State Park (known today as Robert Moses State Park ) in 1908, John Boyd Thacher State Park in 1914, Enfield Glen State Park (today's Robert H. Treman State Park ) in 1920, and Allegany State Park in 1921. A coordinated effort to protect portions of

1221-487: The summit, the 40 feet (12 m) Perkins Memorial Tower provides a view of four states and the skyline of Manhattan , 40 miles (64 km) to the south. The road and tower were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps between 1932 and 1934. It is named after George Wallbridge Perkins, the first president of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission. The Trailside Museums and Zoo are located at

1258-571: The top of Bear Mountain. Bear Mountain also regularly hosts cross country running events during the fall season. High school cross country teams compete on the 3.0-mile (4.8 km) course, which mostly consists of paved walkways. Bear Mountain is the location for the County's Championship race as well as the Rockland County Alumni Race, run every year since 1983. Several cruise lines operate cruises with views and trips to

1295-676: The west bank of the Hudson River in Rockland and Orange counties, New York . The park offers biking, hiking, boating, picnicking, swimming, cross-country skiing , cross-country running, sledding and ice skating. It also includes several facilities such as the Perkins Memorial Tower, the Trailside Museum and Zoo, the Bear Mountain Inn , a merry-go-round, a pool, and a skating rink. It also hosts

1332-779: Was formed in 1921 for the Boy Scouts facility in the park from the original exhibits created by the American Museum of Natural History . The Geology Museum covers the Hudson Highlands and other local geology. The History Museum has exhibits about colonial and Native American culture. On February 11, 1962, 35,120 spectators turned out to watch the New York State Junior Ski Jumping Championship. More jump competitions were held at Bear Mountain than at any other ski jump in

1369-654: Was managing 74 parks welcoming a combined 20 million visitors annually. However, the Division of Parks' responsibilities were reduced in 1944 when 27 State Historic Sites were placed under the jurisdiction of the New York State Education Department . These sites were eventually returned to the Conservation Department in 1966; in the same year, the New York State Historic Trust (which later became

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