Merits seen in Moreau land purchase
890-acre area meant to enhance horse riding, other recreational uses
Nearly 900 acres of land will be permanently protected and eventually transferred to its neighbor, Moreau Lake State Park.
The property, known as the Smith Farm, was bought by Open Space Institute for $1.4 million from Finch Pruyn Timberlands. Located along the Hudson River, it features more than 2 miles of river frontage across from the Hudson Pointe Preserve.
With the land protected, the town of Moreau can move forward with its plan to develop the Hudson River Trail, a scenic path along the Hudson River that would connect the state park to downtown Glens Falls.
“Moreau Lake State Park is a breathtaking, natural landscape where individuals and families can enjoy nature’s bounty — dense forests, rocky ridges, and sparkling lakes,” said Kim Elliman, the institute’s president.
Moreau Supervisor Todd Kusnierz greeted the news of the
purchase, noting it will improve recreation opportunities for people in and around the town “for generations to come.”
The conservation of Smith Farm is a priority of the institute’s Palmertown Range Master Plan, which identifies the parcels that are critical to protect toward creation of a 13-mile recreational corridor that will link Moreau Lake and Saratoga Spa state parks. The Smith Farm deal represents the group’s first step in achieving the Palmertown Master Plan vision.
The protection of the Smith Farm property will also help to supplement high demand for equestrian recreation. In conjunction with an equestrian trailer parking area planned by Saratoga County, the land can be an extension of the horse trails in Moreau Lake State Park and will provide more access points into the park for riders.
The Smith Farm property is named for the Quaker colony that lived there in the mid-1800s. The foundation of a Quaker barn, as well as a Quaker cemetery and the remnants of a fish hatchery can be found on the land.