FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE04-56
October
6, 2004
Contact:
Ian Michaels
(718) 595-6600
New
York City DEP Makes Donations of Historic Bluestone
Commissioner Christopher Ward of New York City Department of
Environmental Protection (DEP) today announced two donations of
several tons of hand-cut bluestone. The bluestone was harvested
from a local quarry on New York City property during the construction
of the Ashokan Reservoir in the early-20 th century. The material
was cut and stockpiled but never sent to market, and has been in
the DEP’s possession since that time, stored on City-owned
land in West Hurley near the Glenford Dike.
The first gift was to the Town of Hurley , and is being used
to restore 550 feet of historical curbing along Main Street in
old Hurley. It involved approximately 1,200 square feet of stone
in pieces up to 30 inches wide. The bluestone was picked up by
the Town of Hurley Highway Department in August.
Most of the remainder of the bluestone has been set aside for
a second donation to the Association for the Protection of the
Adirondacks to help create an outdoor amphitheatre for educational
programs. That gift will be over 2,800 square feet of stone, and
will most likely be removed from the site by the Association before
the end of October.
"DEP is glad that this surplus stockpile could be put to
positive uses in local communities,” said Commissioner Ward. “The
bluestone is very valuable and we’re happy to share what
little we have. I just wish there was more quality bluestone to
give away for other worthy projects."
Hurley Town Historian Dave Baker said, "I want to thank
the DEP for allowing the town of Hurley the special use of the
bluestone curbing. With this generous donation, we were able to
enhance the appearance of our Main Street Historic District.”
In conjunction with the sidewalk project in Hurley, a 30" x
30" block of bluestone will go to the Delaware and Hudson
Heritage Corridor Alliance to be used as a memorial for fallen
State Trooper Michael Kelly. The memorial will be placed along
the Rail Trail in Hurley, which will be dedicated in a ceremony
on Monday, October 11, on Route 209 near the Hurley Mountain Inn.
The Association for the Protection of the Adirondacks is located
in Niskayuna , New York . Founded in 1901, the Association is dedicated
to sustaining the ecological integrity and mutual well being of
the natural and human communities of the Adirondack and Catskill
Parks .
Ken Remany, the Association's Director of Development and Outreach,
said, “We are so very appreciative and grateful to receive
this bluestone donation from DEP, which will be used to create an
outdoor amphitheatre for educational programs at our new headquarters,
The Center for the Forest Preserve, now being built at the historic
site of the home of the late Paul Schaefer." In 1998, Audubon
magazine recognized Mr. Schaefer as one of the Nation's top 100 'Champions
of Conservation' in the 20th century.