First Wilderness Heritage Corridor
Adirondack Park Local Government Day
First Wilderness Corridor Program
Wayne E LaMothe, AICP
Warren County Planning Dept
Lake George, NY
Presentation Elements
Geographic Location
History of the Planning Process
Carsey Institute tenets of Economic Development
Investments to date
Lessons learned
Geographic Boundary
The Corridor extends
from Tahawus in the
High Peaks to Saratoga
Springs. The primary
focus area has been
from North Creek to
Corinth as that is the
extent covered by the
existing MOU
governing the
administration of the
Plan.
The Planning Process
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The development of the First Wilderness Plan involved 10 communities, 3
Counties and multiple State Agencies.
The Plan was developed over a 2 year period that included 182 meetings with
Towns, consultants, staff and community working groups.
Principle funding Agency for the Planning Program and resulting capital
projects was the NYS Department of State through the Local Waterfront
Revitalization Program (LWRP)
Ongoing with an update to the Action Plan in progress
The Planning Process
The Adirondacks were the first place where Americans realized that wilderness
was going to be a distinguishing and permanent feature of their landscape
New York Upstate chapter of the American Planning Association, designated
“Rediscovering the First Wilderness: Inter-Municipal Strategy for the
Northern Hudson River” report was the 2003 Outstanding Planning Project of
the year for Comprehensive Planning-Special Community Initiative.
Principles for Implementing the
First Wilderness Experience
Focus on the authenticity & quality of the experience
(Everything should reinforce high quality in the built environment,
but don’t destroy the beauty by trying to make it “too pretty.”)
Preserve and protect resources
(including natural, human and social)
Make Sites Come Alive
(incorporate the working landscape; build upon existing community activities)
Collaborate – Compliment not Compete!
(a single experience will be a bigger draw)
Source: National Trust for Historic Preservation
A Change of Perspective on Small-Town Rural
Economies
(The following is adapted from the Carsey Institute at the University of New Hampshire, Policy Brief No.9
and Place Matters, Vol.1 No.4.)
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The Planning Approach.....
Rural communities are bound by the common threads of remoteness, low
density and natural resources which collectively make them unique and
special.
Outdated approaches no longer yield sustainable results.
Planning policies must center on solutions that serve the needs and goals of
both present and future residents to keep the quality and integrity of the rural
lifestyle.
Action plans must enhance, protect and preserve the beauty of the natural
environment by using place-specific resources and human capital to attract and
grow new economic opportunities.
Carsey Institute Tenets
Policy brief NO.9 – Fall 2008
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Innovation is key to driving growth and prosperity in today’s global economy
Significant capital investments are required to put innovations to use
Development efforts must seek to protect valuable natural assets
Development is a “contact sport,” best pursued though dense networks of
personal contacts.
History of the Planning Process
92/93 Project is outgrowth of North Creek Action Plan
1999-Warren County staff attend American Planning Association
conference in Seattle.
1999- County submits application for LWRP funding – This begins
the involvement of the NYS Department of State in the project.
1999-Funding awarded under first round of Quality Communities
Program
2000-Project expands to include Saratoga County Communities
History of the Planning Process
2001- Resolution 455 of 2001 adopts Plan by Warren County and refers it
to Adirondack Park Agency for comment
2004- Action Plan Developed
Currently there are 39 separate projects underway – many with multiple
components.
The Action Plan
Of the 216 goals identified in the current Action Plan
• 57 are completed
• 39 are in work with current funding awards
• 10 are targeted with funding in place
• 54 are no longer viable
• 56 are yet to be addressed and are to be reevaluated during Plan
update
North Creek Destination
(History, Skiing & Services)
Riparius Attraction
(History & Specialty Retail)
The Glen Whistle Stop
(Whitewater & River ecology)
Thurman Station Whistle Stop
(Biking, History & Services)
Stony Creek Attraction
(Outdoor Recreation & History)
Hadley/Lake Luzerne Destination
(Whitewater & Services)
Corinth Destination
(History, Water & Services)
Current Work Programs
Prior to existing work programs the County facilitated LWRP, QC and GOSC grant awards
in furtherance of Corridor projects totaling $759,450.
Current Projects: 2007 Award - $505,000
Component 1: Planning, design and construction of improvements to the North Creek
Train Station complex
Component 2: Planning, design and construction of connections between Hadley and Lake
Luzerne, including streetscape enhancements and construction of a train station and
parking facilities
Component 3: Updating the First Wilderness Heritage Corridor Action Plan
Component 4: Corridor coordination to assist with marketing and outreach
Current Work Programs
Current Projects: 2008 Award - $258,270
• Component 1: design and construction of improvements to the North Creek Train
Station complex and adjacent streetscapes
• Component 2 :develop a marketing and promotion plan to guide the preparation and
delivery of events and materials to enhance regional tourism activities
• Component 3: enhancements to the First Wilderness Heritage Corridor website
Current Work Programs
Current Projects: 2009 Award - $416,006
• Component 1: The Town of Chester will assess the capability of the hamlet of
Chestertown Water District to support a newly created 22-acre industrial park and a 56acre parcel to be developed for affordable housing
• Component 2: The Town of Chester will complete streetscape enhancements in the
hamlets of Chestertown and Pottersville, including lighting, sidewalks, and landscaping
• Component 3: The Town of Stony Creek will construct non-motorized trails with
associated parking and signage at Dean Farm, a 217-acre parcel owned by the ESF
College Foundation, Inc., in order to create a recreational destination for residents and
tourists
• Component 4: Using designs completed under a previous grant award, the Town of
Lake Luzerne will complete streetscape enhancements in the hamlet of Lake Luzerne,
including sidewalks, lighting, and landscaping
• Component 5: Warren County will design wayfinding sites and signage in the hamlets
of Lake Luzerne, Thurman, Warrensburg, Chestertown, North Creek and Pottersville
Current Work Programs
Current Projects: 2011 Award - $463,116
• Component 1: Design of Dynamite Hill Ski Area Improvements: The project partners
will complete design and engineering of improvements needed to modernize the
Dynamite Hill Ski Area in the Town of Chester in order to allow it to serve as a yearround destination area in winter months and to make the park more accessible for bike
and pedestrian traffic from Main Street
• Component 2: Design and Construction of North Creek Streetscape Improvements
• Component 3: Design and Construction of Thurman and Hadley Station Improvements
• Component 4: Design and Construction of Boarding Platform at the Old Corinth
Station
• Component 5: Design and Construction of Adirondack Folk School Enhancements
• Component 6: Corridor Marketing and Promotion
Current Work Programs
Current Projects: 2012 Award – 308,000
• Component 1: Design and Construction of Warrensburg Main Street Improvements
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Component 2: Design of Warrensburg Waterfront Park
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Component 3: Design of Town of Corinth Rail Station
Current Work Programs
Current Projects: 2013 Award – 553.500
• Component 1: Town of Hadley – Sacandaga River Whitewater Park This project
involves the development of the first phase of a whitewater park on the Sacandaga River
in the area west of the Bow Bridge in the Town of Hadley
• Component 2: Town of Stony Creek - Dean Farm Preserve Enhancements This
project involves the design and construction of enhancements to the Dean Farm
Recreation Area
• Component 3: Town of Stony Creek – Hamlet Streetscape Enhancements This
project involves the design and construction of streetscape and gateway enhancements
in the hamlet
• Component 4: Town of Lake Luzerne – Adirondack Folkschool Enhancements
This project involves the enhancement of teaching facilities at the Adirondack
Folkschool
Current Work Programs
Current Projects: 2014 Award $410,450
• Component 1 - Update of the Corridor Market Study The study will evaluate the
role of improved passenger rail in the Adirondack economy
• Component 2 North Creek Mainstreet This component requests funding to provide
the materials to replace public waterlines
• Component 3 North Creek Sewer District Create a Map and Plan Report for the
formation of a Sewer District in the Hamlet of North Creek
• Component 4: Linkage between Chestertown and Pottersville The project is to
develop a concept for a 10.7-mile bike-pedestrian path between the hamlet of
Chestertown to Scaroon Manor Day Use Area
• Component 5 - Town of Corinth Reservoir Property linkages
• Component 6 - Stony Creek Community Center The scope of services covered is the
Construction Documents phase of the project
Lessons learned
Lessons Learned......
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Outdated notions of rural and “one-size-fits-all” planning must be redefined.
Protection of natural resources is critical to preserving rural character.
Planning programs, policies and action strategies must become “placed-based”
within regional contexts.
The process is growing – more communities involved
Learn to temper local enthusiasm with reality of how much can be done with
local forces.
Lessons learned
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Consensus building is nice but a dictatorship is more efficient
Local ownership is key to achievements
Rural Towns need Technical Assistance
Do your homework early to get the right consultant
“Economic Development” is a relative term
The best we can do is provide a means for a community to prosper – we can’t do it for
them.
Continued updates at http://www.firstwilderness.com/
This presentation may be found at http://firstwilderness.wordpress.com/slides/