MOREAU, N.Y. — State officials recently announced the opening of the Big Bend Preserve at Moreau Lake State Park for public visitation.
According to a press release, the preserve adds 860 acres to Moreau Lake State Park – roughly the size of Central Park in New York City – and makes Moreau Lake one of the 10 largest parks in the state park system. The preserve will provide both recreational activities for visitors and valuable habitats for native species. The opening builds on Gov.
Kathy Hochul’s “Get Offline, Get Outside” summer campaign to promote physical and mental health by helping New York’s kids and families put down their phones and computers, take a break from social media, and enjoy recreation and outdoor social gatherings. “Moreau Lake State Park is beloved for its outstanding outdoor recreational opportunities, from its kayaking to its trails,” Hochul said in the release. “This summer, I’m encouraging New Yorkers to get offline and get outside at the new Big Bend Preserve – a remarkable new place to connect with nature and enjoy the outdoors.
” “Big Bend is a unique addition to our system. Environmental stewardship is a crucial part of our agency’s mission and has defined our work for the past 100 years. Big Bend exemplifies our commitment to restoring our wild places and sharing them so that the public can experience the wonders of nature.
Opening Big Bend is a welcome highlight during this Centennial year,” New York State Parks Com.