A Wild Idea
A Wild Idea

Author: Brad Edmondson

Publisher: Cornell University Press

Published: 2021-05-15

Total Pages: 185

ISBN-13: 1501759035

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A Wild Idea shares the complete story of the difficult birth of the Adirondack Park Agency (APA). The Adirondack region of New York's rural North Country forms the nation's largest State Park, with a territory as large as Vermont. Planning experts view the APA as a triumph of sustainability that balances human activity with the preservation of wild ecosystems. The truth isn't as pretty. The story of the APA, told here for the first time, is a complex, troubled tale of political dueling and communities pushed to the brink of violence. The North Country's environmental movement started among a small group of hunters and hikers, rose on a huge wave of public concern about pollution that crested in the early 1970s, and overcame multiple obstacles to "save" the Adirondacks. Edmondson shows how the movement's leaders persuaded a powerful Governor to recruit planners, naturalists, and advisors and assign a task that had never been attempted before. The team and the politicians who supported them worked around the clock to draft two visionary land-use plans and turn them into law. But they also made mistakes, and their strict regulations were met with determined opposition from local landowners who insisted that private property is private. A Wild Idea is based on in-depth interviews with five dozen insiders who are central to the story. Their observations contain many surprising and shocking revelations. This is a rich, exciting narrative about state power and how it was imposed on rural residents. It shows how the Adirondacks were "saved," and also why that campaign sparked a passionate rebellion.

The Adirondack Atlas
The Adirondack Atlas

Author: Jerry C. Jenkins

Publisher:

Published: 2004-01

Total Pages: 275

ISBN-13: 9780815607571

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A detailed geographic overview of the largest protected area in the contiguous United States and the largest region of protected temperate forests in the world spotlights climate, natural development, recreational growth, pollution, and many other aspects of the Adirondack Park in a reference that features 450 full-color maps, as well as 250 figures, graphs, tables, charts, and scientific drawings. Original.

The Trails of the Adirondacks
The Trails of the Adirondacks

Author: Carl Heilman II

Publisher: Rizzoli Publications

Published: 2019-04-16

Total Pages: 290

ISBN-13: 1599621533

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This official book published with the Adirondack Mountain Club celebrates America's original hiking destination through breathtaking contemporary photography, maps, rarely seen archival photos, and a text that brings the history of the trails to life. The Adirondack Park is home to the largest protected natural area in the lower 48 states--six million acres including more than 10,000 lakes, 30,000 miles of rivers and streams, and thousands of miles of hiking trails running from mountain summits through a wide variety of habitats including wetlands and old-growth forests. How better to view this wilderness than afoot on the many trails, many leading to some of the most picturesque summits in North America. There are trails for everyone in the Adirondacks. Today, thousands enjoy hiking, skiing, and snowshoeing trails to backcountry destinations all around the park while others aspire to climb all 46 peaks. Water trails include the historic Fulton Chain of Lakes, Raquette River, and Saranac River routes, in addition to more intimate paddles across wild lakes and waters that meander through towering mountains and verdant forests. Every season has its own charm, all portrayed here in this one of a kind volume of history and photography along Adirondack trails. This is a book for anyone who enjoys travelling through the Adirondack backcountry and includes unique and picturesque destinations throughout the Adirondack Park in addition to a comprehensive history on hiking in the Adirondacks. From the dramatic beauty of the Lake George Wild Forest, to numerous fire tower summits and open ledges and mountaintops scattered around the park, and the rugged splendor of the High Peaks and bucolic beauty of the Champlain Valley, this book covers it all.

Kiddie Parks of the Adirondacks
Kiddie Parks of the Adirondacks

Author: Rose Ann Hirsch

Publisher: Arcadia Publishing

Published: 2006

Total Pages: 132

ISBN-13: 9780738544700

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The first kiddie parks in North America were born in the lush forests of the Adirondack Mountains in the 1950s. These parks brought to life the characters of beloved fairytales, legends, and nursery rhymes through live performers, animated figures, and themed mechanical rides. Kiddie Parks of the Adirondacks contains images of some of the Adirondacks' most popular kiddie parks: Storytown U.S.A., Enchanted Forest of the Adirondacks, the Land of Make Believe, Magic Forest, and Santa's Workshop. Each park is home to various fantasy-themed amusements built to accommodate children rather than adults. Four of the five parks are still in operation and continue to entertain new generations of children every year.

Perspectives on the Adirondacks
Perspectives on the Adirondacks

Author: Barbara McMartin

Publisher: Syracuse University Press

Published: 2007-06-04

Total Pages: 410

ISBN-13: 9780815608950

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Barbara McMartin narrates the history of Adirondack environmental policy in depth, beginning with the 1970 formation of the Adirondack Park Agency, set up to regulate private development and to oversee the planning of public terrain. Although hailed as the most innovative land-use legislation of its time, it ignited a wildfire of controversy, creating a landscape of conflict. Park residents protested. Government stood firm. Over the decades, disparate groups have sought to shape an effective program to protect Adirondack wildland but cannot seem to work together. This is the first comprehensive account of that ongoing drama: a stirring story of the environmental movement, public action, and government failure and success.