In the Spring of 2025, I enrolled in a PR writing course where I served as a hypothetical public relations professional for the Adirondacks. These materials were developed for educational purposes. The following information is not intended to be factual but is part of a class writing assignment in the Spring of 2025 at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, Syracuse University. All information is intended to be sourced appropriately.
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Hayden Jones PR
394-044-5930
Hjones17@syr.edu
123, Main Street
Adirondack Park, NY 10903
FOLLOWING LAKE CLIMATE SURVEY, NEW YORK STATE ALLOCATES
$252 BILLION TO THE ADIRONDACKS REGION
Funding Marks a $8.6 Billion Increase for The Adirondacks Region Since the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-25 Budget
Albany, N.Y. (January 30, 2025) – New York State Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Jan. 13, 2025, that
important Adirondack Park projects will be prioritized and funded through the government with a $252
billion state budget proposal. The budget set for the Adirondacks includes climate resiliency, environmental
education and research, and investments in clean water.
Other proposals include many specific projects that will benefit the natural resources in the Adirondacks and
the community. Barbra Rice, Executive Director of the Adirondack Park Agency (APA), said, “We are glad to
see urgent Adirondack projects supported through the governor’s budget proposal for the FY 2025-26.
However, we believe more funding is needed to cover environmental priorities in the Adirondacks. We hope
to secure additional funding through the executive branch.”
On Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, an additional $10 million was given to the APA to update and rebuild its
buildings/headquarters, along with an extra $8 million for Adirondack visitor safety. However, the budget is
subject to change as lawmakers have until April 1 to finalize and deliver the budget. “The APA is satisfied and
grateful for the current proposed budget, we hope to see many new great improvements for the park in the
coming months,” said Rice.
When the budget goes live, the Adirondacks will benefit drastically from multiple projects. For example, this
will include funding for clean water across the state and preserving the wetlands and natural resources.
Ensuring that wastewater is clean before being returned to the ecosystem, protecting Adirondack lands from
invasive species, will boost vegetation growth. In the Environmental Protection Fund, $49 million is being
used to keep and maintain the Forest Preserve, ensuring that wildlife stays protected, along with their home.
This includes several rivers, lakes, trails, and valleys that will remain a natural environment, mainly
undisturbed by human activity.
ABOUT: The Adirondack Region encompasses 6 million acres and remains the largest publicly protected
continuous area within the United States. The park is split into publicly and privately owned sectors, roughly
2.6 million of the Adirondack Park remains “forever wild” under the Forest Preserve and the remaining 3.4
million is privately owned by multiple people.
For more information about the Adirondacks visit our site https://visitadirondacks.com/ or through https://www.iloveny.com/places-to-go/adirondacks/.
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