As a representative of the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, I was recently asked to serve on the Board of Directors for the Friends of the Catskill Interpretative Center.  This group has supported the long-promised but much delayed Catskill Interpretive Center along Route 28 in Mount Tremper and is finally realizing some success at making the center a reality.

Flagging tape from our last trail layout trip at the Interpretive Center site

These are exciting times for the Interpretive Center, New York State’s 2013 budget includes funding for the project, and designs are being finalized by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).  The project began more than three decades ago, when interpretive centers were being designed and built in the Adirondack Park. The state purchased land for the center and completed initial site work, but progress same to a stop when priorities changed. Nevertheless, local organizations and activists continued to push for completion of the project, which promises to promote tourism and economic benefits to the Catskill Mountain region.

In addition to the building itself, the site will be home to a number of different interpretive exhibits, hiking trails and other resources for visitors.  I have already been out with staff from the Catskill Center working up some ideas for trail layout and design.  Expect plenty of opportunities for training and trail work later this season as we take those trails from the planning to the building stages.