Friends,

Results and more than 1.5 million votes on the Adirondack Amendments are in: Voters Support their Adirondack Park and Forest Preserve.

Voters reaffirmed that the Adirondack Park belongs to all New Yorkers. By a wide margin Proposition 4 (Township 40) was approved. Voters also approved a poorly worded amendment that expands the Jay Mountain Wilderness as part of a land swap with the NYCO mineral company.

Election results show that New Yorkers care deeply about the Adirondack Park. Clearly the Adirondack Council's collaboration with local governments, unions, property owners and environmental partners can produce victories and results that benefit the Forest Preserve and communities.

The Adirondack Council is grateful that the voters approved these two Constitutional Amendments authorizing land swaps strengthening the 'forever wild' Adirondack Forest Preserve. This strong vote of support shows that New Yorkers value the environmental and economic benefits of the State's six-million-acre Adirondack Park.

Voters share the Adirondack Council's vision of their Adirondack Park - a park that works best when its wild character is protected and its small towns and hamlets are vibrant and alive.

The Adirondack Council thanks the voters of New York for supporting our quest to add more than 1,500 acres to the Forest Preserve in the Jay Mountain Wilderness and Taylor Pond Wild Forest, in the Town of Lewis, plus the 290-acre Marion River Canoe Carry in the Town of Long Lake.

The Adirondack Council thanks all our partners and supporters for assisting in this victory for the Park, for an expanded Forest Preserve, and for the Park's communities. Now, together with those who supported these amendments and those who didn't, we can focus on advancing strategies that don't require constitutional amendments but do combine additional protection of waters and land, and enhancement of the wild forest character of the State's largest Park, including actions that foster vibrant communities.

These wins for the people's Adirondack Park, for wilderness and communities, showcase the success of a new way of doing Adirondack conservation - the Adirondack Council way. Set principles, collaborate and work with diverse stakeholders to find common ground, work in coalitions and get results. No more "we would rather fight than win," personal attacks or tearing others down. When we're working together the people's Park wins. This new approach is part of the new strategic plan for the Adirondack Council, and the Council's new leadership. This new way of doing business will build us a better Park.