Governor Kathy Hochul has signed legislation that would allow for the continued use and improvement of the Mount Van Hoevenberg Olympic Sports Complex in Essex County, contingent on voter approval of a proposed constitutional amendment. The measure also includes provisions to expand protections for the Adirondack Park Forest Preserve by requiring the addition of at least 2,500 acres of new public lands.
“New Yorkers will have the opportunity to decide whether to move forward with this important constitutional amendment,” Governor Hochul said. “By signing this legislation, we’re ensuring that if voters approve the measure, the State will be ready to implement it immediately, allowing New York to strengthen its Olympic legacy at Mount Van Hoevenberg while protecting the Adirondack wilderness that defines who we are as New Yorkers.”
If voters pass the constitutional amendment, the state would be authorized under this law to use a limited area of Forest Preserve land at Mount Van Hoevenberg for maintaining Nordic skiing and biathlon trails along with necessary facilities. In exchange for this use, at least 2,500 acres of forest land within Adirondack Park would be acquired and added to the Forest Preserve.
State Senator Dan Stec commented on the significance of this step: “The legislation implementing the constitutional amendment authorizing continued use and improvement of the Mount Van Hoevenberg Olympic Sports Complex in Essex County is vital to our region. It resolves a longstanding issue for the county, ensures our Olympic facilities remain state-of-the-art and protects the Adirondack Park Forest Preserve. I’m pleased that the governor has signed it into law.”
Mount Van Hoevenberg serves as a venue for international sporting events and year-round athlete training. Should Proposal 1—the Use of Mount Van Hoevenberg Sports Complex Land and Acquisition of 2,500 Acres for Adirondack Park Amendment (2025)—be adopted by voters, any future development must adhere to existing environmental plans such as those outlined in the Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan and receive authorization through a Unit Management Plan under state law.
This legislative action supports ongoing efforts by New York State to maintain its leadership role in conserving over six million acres within Adirondack Park—the largest publicly protected area in contiguous United States.
