The Four Peaks Tract in Jay, pictured here, was purchased by the state of New York from the Adirondack Land Trust. This property is named “Four Peaks” because it’s surrounded by Rattlesnake Knob, Ebenezer, Wainwright and Bassett mountains, though only one of those —Rattlesnake Knob — is located on the property. The others are located on private property. (Photo provided — Adirondack Land Trust)

JAY — The New York state Department of Environmental Conservation acquired the 595-acre Four Peaks tract in Jay from the Adirondack Land Trust for $575,000 last week. The land will be added to the forest preserve and be open to the public for outdoor recreation.

DEC Regional Director Joe Zalewski said in a statement that the acquisition is “both an environmental protection and economic win for our communities.”

“DEC is excited for the recreation potential of this parcel and the opportunity to connect communities within the Adirondack Park,” he said.

The tract adjoins the Beaver Brook tract, which is a part of the Wilmington Wild Forest and popular with mountain bikers, hikers and trail runners. Named after the four prominent mountains that surround the property, only one of the Four Peaks tract’s mountains, Rattlesnake Knob, is a part of the property. The other three — Bassett Mountain, Wainwright Mountain and Ebenezer Mountain — are on private land and are not open to the public.

The Adirondack Land Trust acquired the tract for $509,000 in 2018 from the estate of Martin Schwalbaum, who managed the Four Peaks cabin resort on the property. The property was identified by the state around that time in its Open Space Conservation Plan as having the potential to join the forest preserve and facilitate outdoor recreation.

“We are honored to work with our state partners on this strategic addition to Forest Preserve. The land is ecologically and dimensionally intriguing — from low meadows to high knobs,” Adirondack Land Trust Executive Director Mike Carr said in a statement. “From a community benefits perspective, it’s all here: new opportunities for outdoor recreation that in turn contribute to health and wellness and spur economic activity.”

The DEC acquired the property with $575,000 from the Environmental Protection Fund, which received $400 million through this year’s state budget. The EPF is used to promote sustainability and protect environmental resources. It also supports the 30×30 initiative, the state’s 2022 amendment to the Environmental Conservation Law that mandates the conservation of 30% of New York’s lands and waters by 2030.

In a report detailing the 30×30 initiatives draft strategies and methodology, the DEC and state Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation said that, as of this month, 21.88% of New York’s lands and waters are conserved, more than 7.6 million acres. To achieve the goal of 30% conservation by 2030, the state will need to acquire and conserve more than 2.8 million additional acres in a little over five years.

In order for outdoor recreation and development to begin at Four Peaks, the Adirondack Park Agency will need to classify the lands. Then, the DEC will begin its unit management planning process, which includes inventories public uses, wildlife, resources and facilities; intended management activities and assessments of carrying capacities and necessary improvements, among other information.

APA Executive Director Barb Rice said in a statement that the DEC’s acquisition of Four Peaks will further connect the communities of Wilmington and Jay — both to one another and to the wilderness.

“We are grateful for former Wilmington Supervisor Randy Preston’s vision to connect the forest preserve lands to the heart of the town,” Rice said.

Preston served as Wilmington’s town supervisor from 2008 until his death in 2019. In his life, he was known as a tireless advocate for his small town.

“This beautiful addition will link Wilmington to Jay and will be a short distance to the East Branch Trails in the town of Keene. These front-country, multiple-use community trails systems provide tremendous quality of life opportunities to residents and help bolster local businesses,” Rice added.