Contact your state representatives and let them know how vital this funding is for the Catskills and the Catskills Visitor Center!

The Catskill Center is calling on the New York State Legislature to support Governor Kathy Hochul’s $150,000 budget line in her Executive Budget Proposal for the vital operation and management of the Congressman Maurice D. Hinchey Catskills Visitor Center (CVC). The CVC is the official Visitor Center for the Catskill Park and serves as a gateway for the entire Catskills region.

The $150,000 for the CVC would be part of the Environmental Protection Fund, where it has been included for the past two years. During this time, CVC staff welcomed thousands of visitors seeking safe places to recreate outdoors amid pandemic-related challenges. Among other efforts, the interior portion of the CVC was completely renovated in 2021 to offer new exhibits and expanded information about the Catskill Park.

The CVC is a public-private partnership between the Catskill Center and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). The Catskill Center operates and manages the CVC, while the DEC is responsible for capital projects.

The CVC opened in 2015, and is situated on 60 acres of forest, fields, and wetlands in the hamlet of Mount Tremper, Ulster County. In addition to the Visitor Center building, the site features walking trails; picnic areas; a covered pavilion; wildlife viewing; access trails to the Esopus Creek; and a Fire Tower.

Contact your local state representatives and let them know you want them to support the governor’s funding line of $150,000 in the Environmental Protection Fund for the Catskills Visitor Center.

NYS Assemblymembers:

Let them know that you support the Catskills Visitor Center and that you want them to support it, and that you vote! Don’t know who they are? Find out here.

NY State Senators:

Let them know that you support the Catskills Visitor Center and that you want them to support it, and that you vote! Don’t know who they are? Find out here.