New York Senate Bill S06331

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/10/25
• Refer: 3/10/25
• Refer: 1/7/26

Caption

Establishes the position of Catskill park coordinator within the department of environmental conservation to build partnerships between the department and other state agencies, municipal governments, businesses and nonprofit entities that will develop a community-based tourism strategy for the forest preserve to help fortify the regional economy and to coordinate implementation of the public access plan and other approved or adopted Catskill park-wide plans.

Summary

This bill would amend the Environmental Conservation Law to create a new Catskill park coordinator position within the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). The coordinator would assist the commissioner with developing and implementing the Catskill Park public access plan and would serve as a central point of coordination for Catskill Park-wide planning and management efforts. The bill also directs the coordinator to build partnerships among state agencies, local governments, businesses, and nonprofit organizations to support a community-based tourism strategy for the forest preserve and strengthen the regional economy. In addition, the coordinator would help organize forums, follow up on concerns raised by the public, and improve communication between the DEC, other agencies, and the public.

Impact

The bill would add a new statutory section to the Environmental Conservation Law requiring the DEC commissioner to maintain the Catskill park coordinator position and define its duties. It would not directly change land use rules or environmental standards, but it would formalize an administrative role focused on coordinating public access planning, tracking implementation of Catskill Park plans, improving interagency communication, and supporting tourism and regional development in the Catskills.

Sentiment

The bill appears generally supportive and noncontroversial in tone, emphasizing coordination, public access, and economic benefits for the Catskill region. The sponsor's justification frames the position as a practical way to improve implementation of existing plans and balance environmental, social, and economic interests. No committee transcript or vote data was provided showing opposition or divided sentiment.

Contention

The main potential point of contention is the scope of the coordinator’s role, particularly whether the position should emphasize conservation and public access or also actively promote tourism and regional economic development. Some stakeholders could view the creation of a new DEC position as an added administrative layer or question the need for a dedicated coordinator when other DEC watershed and park-related roles already exist. However, no specific opposition is reflected in the provided record.