“We feel vindicated and we are proud that we were able to step up and protect the people’s land.”
In the four to two ruling, the NYS Court of Appeals said that the state’s constitution and legal precedents are clear. If the DEC wants to cut thousands of trees to build a trail system, the state would first need to pass a constitutional amendment.
A Class II connector trail under construction in the Adirondacks. Photo courtesy of Protect the AdirondacksBauer said the ruling is good news for every forest in the park. “Those trees are better protected today than they were yesterday. So this will have some changes on the Forest Preserve, but it should not affect the public’s recreational use of the Forest Preserve at all.”