The Creation of the Adirondack Park | A Wild Idea

Examine the early origins of New York’s Adirondack Park and the role it played in one of the most significant land use planning conservation efforts ever undertaken. Students will explore conditions that led to the adoption of the “Forever Wild” clause of the New York State Constitution, the significance of the “blue line” in carving out the boundaries of the Adirondack Park, and the future of the park.

Today, the Adirondack Park is one of the largest unbroken deciduous forests on earth. With thousands of miles of streams and rivers, hundreds of lakes, and lofty peaks, most of the land within the park is privately owned, and 85 million people live within a day’s drive.