We were thrilled to welcome Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger to Rock Oak Preserve to share in the ribbon cutting celebration. While we opened the preserve to the public a few weeks ago, we held the official ceremony July 31.

Special guests included Ulster County legislators Eric Stewart and Jeff Collins, Town of Hurley Supervisor Mike Boms, representatives from both the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation and New York City’s Department of Environmental Protection, and Town of Hurley historian Jim Decker.

George and Christy Martin, who donated the land that is now Rock Oak Preserve, were in attendance as well. George shared his family’s love of the land before joining Christy to hold the ribbon that our Board President Patty Goodwin cut.

It may have been a gray morning with rain that prevented us from taking our special guests on guided tours of the public trail, but smiles were in abundance as WLC staff, volunteers and Board Members shared the culmination of this multi-year project with officials and the media.

The Daily Freeman placed the ceremony on its front page Friday.