What's happening
This bill establishes Zoar Valley State Park in New York by designating specific state lands for park status.
Why it matters
Converting the Zoar Valley Multiple Use Area into a state park shifts management priorities from multiple uses (like hunting, logging, or motorized recreation) to recreation, conservation, and public enjoyment, potentially changing allowable activities and future development.
State park designation typically brings increased funding, staffing, and infrastructure (such as trails, signage, and visitor facilities), which could boost tourism and local economies but also raise concerns about environmental impact and crowding.
The legislation specifically excludes certain parcels (like East Otto State Forest and a detached area between Wickham and Forty roads), meaning those lands retain their existing status and management, which could influence local land use and access.
By linking the park boundaries to existing deed records and state regulations, the bill ensures clarity in what lands are covered and helps avoid future legal disputes or confusion about park limits and permissible activities.
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Who cares
Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
The bill would direct its commissioner to designate the specified Zoar Valley lands as a state park.
Department of Environmental Conservation
Lands it designated as the Zoar Valley multiple use area would form the new park, with the exclusions specified in the bill.
Visitors to the Zoar Valley multiple use area
The park would include a five-mile segment of Cattaraugus Creek and a two-mile segment of its south branch.
Residents of Otto, Persia and Collins
The park would encompass specified state lands in these towns, excluding East Otto State Forest and the detached parcel generally between Wickham Road and Forty Road.
Headline styles
Create Zoar Valley Park
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to cultural affairs, tourism, parks and recreation
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
890
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 9, 2019
Introduced by Sen. YOUNG -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation
AN ACT to amend the parks, recreation and historic preservation law, in relation to establishing the Zoar Valley state park
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The parks, recreation and historic preservation law is amended by adding a new section 13.33 to read as follows:
§ 13.33 Zoar Valley state park. 1. The commissioner shall designate, pursuant to section 13.03 of this article, those parcels of land specified in subdivision two of this section to be part of the state park system to be known as the "Zoar Valley state park".
2. The Zoar Valley state park shall constitute those lands designated by the commissioner of environmental conservation as the Zoar Valley multiple use area pursuant to section 190.25 of title six of the New York state codes, rules and regulations being:
All those state lands, excluding the East Otto state forest, lying and situated in the towns of Otto and Persia, in the county of Cattaraugus, and the town of Collins, in the county of Erie, including a five-mile segment of Cattaraugus creek and a two-mile segment of the south branch of Cattaraugus creek, and being the same lands as more particularly described in several deeds conveying said lands to the people of the state, on file with the department of environmental conservation at Albany, and duly recorded in the office of the county clerk of the county of Cattaraugus and the office of the county clerk of the county of Erie, respectively. The provisions of this section shall not apply to, and the references to the Zoar Valley state park shall not include, the detached parcel of the former Zoar Valley multiple use area, generally located between Wickham road and Forty road.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04032-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the parks, recreation and historic preservation law, in relation to establishing the Zoar Valley state park
Purpose
The bill designates certain state owned land as the Zoar Valley State Park.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1: Adds a new section 33.33-e to the parks, recreation and historic preservation law to designate the lands designated by the state as the Zoar Valley multiuse recreation area as the Zoar Valley State park and include such lands within the state park system.
Section 2: Provides that the act shall take effect immediately.
Justification
The parcel of land described in this bill is known as the Zoar Valley Multiple Use Area. This area has long been recognized as one of the most scenic and ecologically valuable areas in western New York, encompassing more than 2900 acres within Cattaraugus and Erie counties. The area has a rich history and contains items of archeological significance. It is a destination for recreational activities such as hiking, fishing, water activities and skiing.
The gorge of Cattaraugus Creek in the Zoar Valley Multiple Use Area contains steep cliffs that range from 500 to 100 feet. There have been a number of accidents involving hikers falling into the Gorge of Cattarau- gus Creek. Search and rescue operations can be routine in the summer and fall. Most recently in August of 2017, two young parents and their 4-year-old child were found lying on the base of the gorge after falling from above. Both parents had died and their 4 year old had suffered critical injuries. Their 8 year old was found wandering the gorge floor with a broken arm. This and other tragedies through the years might have been avoided if the area was designated as a state park. Such a desig- nation would help ensure the state takes a more active role in erecting signage and barriers, and performs maintenance and policing activities that will accommodate safe usage of the park facilities.
Legislative history
2018: S.7534 REFERRED TO CULTURAL AFFAIRS, TOURISM, PARKS AND RECREATION
Fiscal implications
Undetermined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.