565-acre Deerpark property to be protected

The City of Port Jervis has purchased the 565-acre Boehmler Pond property that borders the Port Jervis Watershed Park and Recreation Area from the Town of Deerpark, with permanent conservation and public access easements conveyed to the Orange County Land Trust (OCLT), the land trust announced.

According to OCLT, Port Jervis officials consider the Boehmler Pond property a priority for water quality protection, as it contains forested wetlands, ponds, and several streams that flow into city reservoirs #2 and #3. The property’s proximity to the Watershed Park has also been on the radar of the Outdoor Club of Port Jervis, which oversees the stewardship and trail development of the 2,400-acre outdoor adventure and recreational destination.

The city was awarded a NYS Water Quality Improvement Program grant in 2019 for such water-related land acquisitions. A portion of the $1.8M grant funded the purchase and protection of the Boehmler Pond property, OCLT explained in its announcement. The project also received $166,291 in funding from the Open Space Institute (OSI)’s Delaware River Watershed Protection Fund.

Port Jervis Mayor Dominic Cicalese said, “This opportunity for the city not only protects our watershed but also expands our hiking and biking trails. The City of Port Jervis appreciates all of the parties coming together to make this a reality.”

“This is a major victory for the protection of clean water, public access, recreation, and tourism,” stated OCLT Executive Director Jim Delaune. “It is also a testament to the importance of collaboration and partnership, as this project could not have been done without the support of the City of Port Jervis, Town of Deerpark, Department of Environmental Conservation, Open Space Institute, Outdoor Club of Port Jervis, and Orange County Government.”

Mike Ward, president of the Outdoor Club of Port Jervis, added, “Protecting this forest and water supply for Port Jervis has been a priority for the Outdoor Club of Port Jervis from the beginning. Thank you to all involved, especially OCLT for helping to spearhead this project.”