Trump Donates 436-Acre Property to Become the 174th State Park of New York

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The Trust for Public Land officials joined New York Governor George E. Pataki and Donald Trump to announce the donation of two parcels of land in the counties of Westchester and Putnam to become the 174th state park in New York. The 436-acre property, named Donald J. Trump State Park, includes the 282-acre site of the Indian Hill in the towns of Putnam Valley and Yorktown and the 154-acre site of the French Hill in Yorktown.

“The establishment of Donald J. Trump State Park will increase public access to scenic landscapes and provide additional recreational opportunities for families and visitors to the region. On behalf of the people of the Empire State, I express our gratitude to Donald Trump for his vision and commitment to preserve the natural resource of this property for the benefit of future generations,” G said. “I have always loved the city and state of New York and this is my way of trying to give something back. I hope that these 436 acres of property will turn into one of the most beautiful parks anywhere in the world,” said Donald J. Trump.

The Public Land Trust had initial meetings last autumn with Mr. Trump to discuss the properties and their great value as open space. “Mr. Trump was very interested in open space conservation and open to whatever possibilities we might propose. We are thrilled that those early discussions have now resulted this donation for a new state park,” said Rose Harvey, senior vice president of The Trust for Public Land. “Governor Pataki is leading the way when it comes to creating new parks for New Yorkers, and Donald Trump is right there with him, generously donating this land to benefit all of us.”

The 282-acre Indian Hill property, where an announcement event was held, straddles the Westchester County / Putnam County border with 54 acres in the city of Yorktown, Westchester County, and 228 acres in the city of Yorktown, Westchester County, and 228 acres in the city of Westchester County. It is located east of Taconic State Parkway, near Clarence Fahnestock and Franklin Delano Roosevelt State Parks (FDR). The new parkland is a mixture of heavily wooded lands, large open meadows and a large wetland along the eastern border north / south. The 153.8-acre French Hill site is located in Westchester County just south of the FDR State Park. The new parkland is heavily wooded and contains a centrally located 20-acre state designated wetland, the origin of two headwater streams, French Hill Brook and Dogwood Creek.

The entire parcel is located within the New York City Watershed Area and is easily accessible from the Taconic State Parkway. French Hill got its name because the troops of French General Rochambeau camped nearby before and after they helped the Americans win a decisive battle against the British in Yorktown, Virginia, in October 1781. It is part of the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route, included in Heritage New York’s American Revolutionary War Heritage Trail and the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area.

State Parks Commissioner Bernadette Castro said, “This magnificent donation highlights the long-term success of fostering public/private partnerships as we continue to implement Governor Pataki’s vision for the environment and open space protection. Donald Trump’s incredible gift will have a lasting impact on our parklands, opening up public access to additional outdoor recreation and helping preserve the rich array of natural resources found in the Hudson Valley. Through his generosity, New Yorkers and their families will now be able to enjoy these parklands for years to come.”