County includes Quackenbush farm in latest open space awards

Warwick - A 134.9-acre farm in Warwick that has been in agricultural production for more than 200 years was among five properties included in Orange County’s Open Space awards announced Wednesday by County Executive Edward A. Diana. Diana proposed spending a total of $1.98 million to permanently protect of 555 acres on the following properties: • Town of Warwick: Quackenbush Farm $373, 530. This long operating 134.9 acre farm is adjacent to another farm and supports rare species of animals, according to the planning department. • Town of Wallkill: Smiley Farm $698,325. This 229.5-acre farm “was deemed a Dairy of Distinction,” according to the county Planning Department. “Protection of this farm will maintain the bucolic view seen to the south from 1-84 just east of Middletown. Additional funding (75 percent” of projects costs) came from the state Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) Program.” • Town of Crawford: Vellenga Farm $204,060. This 99-acre parcel is part of one of the largest dairy operations in the county and also protects the banks of the Dwaar Kill, an important tributary of the Wallkill River. Additional funding (75 percent of projects costs) came from the state PDR Program, according to the county Planning Department. • Town of Goshen: Brookfields Farm $358,335. This 90-acre farm sustains a beef herd and grows corn, alfalfa, rye and mixed grass hay. The farm has been in agricultural production for more than 200 years. • Town of Highlands: Fort Montgomery Marina $350,000. According to the county Planning Department, this small but significant parcel of land on the Hudson River Will be the only public access point to the River within the Town of Highlands and is adjacent to the historic Fort Montgomery battle site. “These awards represent a significant investment by Orange County and a strong recognition that we will continue to grow and develop as a county but we must respond to growth and development by providing permanent protection to these sensitive areas,” Diana said. Since 2003, when the open space program was first proposed, the county has closed on ten open space projects involving the commitment of $2,678,550.00 million dollars in County funds matching more than $3.5 million in other public and private funds leading to the permanent protection of 1,277 acres of open space.