Great news, campers! The DEC has recently announced that big improvements are being made to North/South Lake campground. As a part of the Adventure NY Initiative, the project will enhance accessibility for all visitors to the popular site, making it easier for everyone to enjoy the great outdoors.
Big Improvements Underway
Nestled in the beautiful Catskill Forest Preserve, the North/South Lake campground first opened in the town of Hunter in 1926. It features historic sites like the Catskill Mountain House and Sunset Rock, making it the perfect place to explore and learn about the region. It’s no wonder that the site has become one of the most popular DEC campgrounds in the state — but soon, there will be even more to love.
New renovations are outlined in the North/South Lake Unit Management Plan (UMP) amendment, adding several features to the campground, including:
- A stone and concrete path with two new accessible benches,
- A wooden fishing platform,
- A concrete path from an accessible parking area to changing rooms,
- A boardwalk providing water access for people with disabilities, and
- A wooden ramp from the parking lot to the beach.
Improvements to the changing room building are also being made. To view the full UMP amendment, visit the DEC’s website at dec.ny.gov/outdoor/24487.html#ump.
According to a recent DEC press release, the project builds upon the $150,000 public access and facility upgrades announced in 2017, with $200,000 in improvements to be completed by Fall 2019. “This project will make the North Lake beach and day use area more user friendly to visitors of all abilities,” said DEC Region 4 Director Keith Goertz in a statement. “These improvements, through Governor Cuomo’s Adventure NY Initiative, are just a sample of the recreational upgrades that New York has underway to better serve everyone who wants to enjoy our state’s great outdoors.”
To promote access to outdoor activities throughout the state, the Adventure NY Initiative will invest in improvements to youth camps, environmental education centers, new boat launches, duck blinds, hiking trails, and other recreational sites like the North/South Lake campground. More than 75 projects have been approved over the next three years. We can’t wait to see what’s coming next!
