4 days Ago By Finger Lakes Times
ULYSSES — The Finger Lakes Land Trust has purchased 23 acres in the town of Ulysses, Tompkins County, from the Cayuga Nature Center. The property, a mix of meadows and woodlands, is along the Black Diamond Trail at the Houghton Road crossing. The FLLT intends to transfer the parcel to the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, which owns and manages the Black Diamond Trail.
The property provides a buffer to the trail, and OPRHP is interested in creating a midway access point on the property with parking, restroom facilities, and a water fountain. The Black Diamond Trail is an 8.4-mile, multi-use trail network currently connecting Taughannock Falls State Park in Ulysses and Cass Park in Ithaca.
Partnering with OPRHP to add lands to state parks continues to be a priority for the FLLT. In 2020, the FLLT transferred a 12-acre parcel in the town of Ulysses to OPRHP which serves as a natural buffer between the trail and the Cayuga Lake Scenic Byway/New York State Route 89. “Again, the Finger Lakes Land Trust has stepped up to support state parks,” said Fred Bonn, regional director for Finger Lakes State Parks.
“In this instance, their efforts will enable us to address a critical need for the Black Diamond Trail, namely a midpoint parking lot and bathroom facility like the one currently being constructed at Taughannock Falls. Parks looks forward to acquiring this parcel from the FLLT and then moving into design and construction in the next few years.” “This is a terrific addition to the Black Diamond,” FLLT President Andrew Zepp added.
“With each passing year, more and more people are getting out to enjoy this multi-use trail. We’re delighted to have the opportunity to work with our partners at State Parks to continue to enhance this outstanding resource.” By working cooperatively with landowners and local communities, the Finger Lakes Land Trust has protected more than 33,000 acres of the region’s undeveloped lakeshore, rugged gorges, rolling forest, and scenic farmland.
The FLLT owns and manages a network of over 45 nature preserves that are open to the public and holds perpetual conservation easements on 200 properties that remain in private ownership. The FLLT focuses on protecting critical habitat for fish and wildlife, conserving lands that are important for water quality, connecting existing conservation lands, and keeping prime farmland in agriculture. The organization also provides programs to educate local governments, landowners, and residents about conservation and the region’s unique natural resources.
Information on the region’s premier destinations for outdoor recreation, including the Black Diamond Trail, may be found at www.gofingerlakes.org , a resource created by the FLLT to encourage people to get outdoors.
Additional information about the Finger Lakes Land Trust may be found at www.fllt.org .
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