This is an op-ed from State Assemblymember Anna Kelles about a statewide proposal that is on the ballot for all New York voters. It was not written by The Ithaca Voice. To submit opinion pieces, please send them to Editor in Chief Matt Butler at mbutler@ithacavoice.org.
This November 4th New York voters will be asked to decide whether to allow 323 acres of constitutionally protected Forest Preserve land in the Adirondacks to be formally annexed for recreational use at the Mount Van Hoevenberg Olympic Sports Complex in Essex County. In exchange, the state would be required to add at least 2,500 acres of land of equal or greater ecological value elsewhere in the Adirondack Park. Much of the 323 acres has already been developed over time for ski trails and related facilities, but this occurred outside the strict requirements of Article 14 of the New York State Constitution, which protects “Forever Wild” lands. This ballot measure is designed to bring those uses into legal compliance. Because these protections are written into the state constitution, the Legislature cannot authorize the change on its own. It must be approved by the people of New York through a statewide vote on a constitutional amendment.
The Mount Van Hoevenberg complex is an Olympic training site that hosts Nordic skiing and biathlon events and supports regional tourism. The amendment would allow these existing and planned uses to continue within a 323-acre limit, including ski and biathlon trails, training and competition facilities, access roads, parking, snowmaking, and similar infrastructure. It would not permit unrelated commercial development such as hotels or zip lines. In exchange, the state must secure and add at least 2,500 acres of land elsewhere in the park to the Forest Preserve, ensuring an overall increase in protected land.
Supporters argue that the proposal brings long-standing uses into compliance with the law while protecting even more land overall. They see it as a balanced way to support recreation, tourism, and the region’s Olympic legacy, while also strengthening conservation. They note that this kind of amendment has been used in the past to reconcile state recreational infrastructure with constitutional protections, and they view the 2,500-acre requirement as a net environmental gain. Major supporters include the Adirondack Council, the Adirondack Mountain Club, the Olympic Regional Development Authority, and several regional tourism and economic development organizations that view the measure as good for both conservation and the local economy.
A few local environmental advocates and wilderness protection groups are concerned about setting a precedent for future carve-outs from Forever Wild protections. They point out that the development has already happened and that approving this measure after the fact may weaken the spirit of the constitutional protections. They have also voiced skepticism over whether the 2,500 acres that will be added will truly match or exceed the ecological value of the 323 acres being used.
Ultimately, this proposal is about how the state balances its commitment to protecting Forever Wild lands with maintaining legacy recreational and Olympic infrastructure. A “yes” vote authorizes this land exchange and formalizes the use of the 323 acres for the sports complex, while adding 2,500 acres to the Forest Preserve. A “no” vote maintains current protections on the 323 acres, which could require the state to remove or reconfigure some of the existing facilities to comply with the constitution.
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