New H.Q.'s Lake

by The Searcher 4 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  The Searcher

  Wanting to discover if the org's recent self-praise regarding carrying out remedial work on a dam at their new H.Q. location was justified, I contacted the New York State Parks department to ask a simple question:

  #1 email

  "I am writing to enquire if Sterling Forest Lake is now owned by the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society, or is it publicly owned?
  Thanking you for your time and trouble,"
  Searcher.

  Response:

  "Good Afternoon Searcher:
  Sterling Forest State Park is managed by New York State Parks."
  Best Wishes,
  NYS Parks
  

  #2 email

  "I'm sorry if my question wasn't clear. I appreciate that the Sterling Forest State Park isn't owned by the WTBTS, but are they now owners/responsible for the lake itself, or is the lake not their legal concern?" Searcher.

  To date - no response.

  Perhaps someone on the other side of the pond could have more success in discovering if the org is responsible for the lake and its infrastructure.
• 

  blondie

  Lands designated as "state parks" in New York are managed under the authority of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (NYS OPRHP)[3] to provide public space for outdoor recreation while conserving natural and cultural resources.[4]

  The following two sortable tables list current and former New York state parks, respectively. The first lists current state parks, as of 2015. It includes all parks owned or managed by the NYS OPRHP. Some are managed primarily or in part by agencies other than the NYS OPRHP through lease or partnership agreements; these are listed if the NYS OPRHP maintains ownership of the park.[3] The second table lists former New York state parks, including those that have been transferred to other agencies in terms of both management and ownership.

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_New_York_state_parks

  Sterling Forest State Park	Orange	7007774244570733568♠19,132 acres (7,742 ha)	1998[144]	266,944	Sterling Lake, Greenwood Lake	Includes a bird conservation area.[9]
• 

  betterdaze

  They don’t own the lake. They own a portion of land around the southern shore that includes one of the dams (there are actually two dams).
  
  The lake is part of Sterling Forest State Park.
  
  It has a public boat launch on the northern shore. It’s stocked with fish during the summer. You need both Sterling Forest and Palisades Interstate Park permits to launch a boat whether you fish or not.
  
  So it is OPEN TO PUBLIC RECREATION. Hiking, hunting, fishing, X-country skiing, snowshoes.

  My tax dollars help fund the park ...
  
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5C7dri6m7U
  
  ... and I have every intention of using this delightful situation to the full.
  
  
• 

  betterdaze

  To date - no response.
  

  Probably because it’s listed as Blue Lake instead. It's a little confusing, this one has two names and there's a larger one nearby called simply, "Sterling Lake."
  

  
  Here’s a picture of the boat launch facing south:
  
  
  
  
  To see the access road that continues around and down the western shore, do a Google Map search for

  “Beech Road, Warwick NY”.
  
  
• 

  The Searcher

  Thanks for the info betterdaze.