Governor Kathy Hochul has signed legislation that would implement a potential constitutional amendment concerning the Mount Van Hoevenberg Olympic Sports Complex in Essex County. The law, identified as S.8047/A.3628, aims to allow upgrades to the Olympic training facilities while also expanding protections for the Adirondack Park Forest Preserve by requiring the addition of at least 2,500 acres of new public lands.
Governor Hochul stated, “New Yorkers will have the opportunity to decide whether to move forward with this important constitutional amendment. By signing this legislation, we’re ensuring that if voters approve the measure, the State will be ready to implement it immediately, allowing New York to strengthen its Olympic legacy at Mount Van Hoevenberg while protecting the Adirondack wilderness that defines who we are as New Yorkers.”
The proposed amendment would permit limited use of Forest Preserve lands at Mount Van Hoevenberg for operating and maintaining Nordic skiing and biathlon trails and related facilities. To balance this use, the law mandates that the state acquire a minimum of 2,500 acres of true forest land within Adirondack Park for inclusion in the Forest Preserve.
State Senator Dan Stec commented on the significance of this measure: “The legislation implementing the constitutional amendment authorizing continued use and improvement of the Mount Van Hoevenberg Olympic Sports Complex in Essex County is vital to our region. It resolves a longstanding issue for the county, ensures our Olympic facilities remain state-of-the-art and protects the Adirondack Park Forest Preserve. I’m pleased that the governor has signed it into law.”
Mount Van Hoevenberg serves as a major site for Nordic skiing, biathlon, and bobsled events and has hosted both Olympic and World Cup competitions. The complex is used year-round by athletes from around the world. Should voters approve Proposal 1—officially known as “Use of Mount Van Hoevenberg Sports Complex Land and Acquisition of 2,500 Acres for Adirondack Park Amendment (2025)”—all development at Mount Van Hoevenberg would be required to comply with state environmental regulations through a Unit Management Plan consistent with the Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan.
The new legislation reinforces New York’s commitment to managing over six million acres within Adirondack Park—the largest publicly protected area in contiguous United States—and will only take effect if Proposal 1 is adopted by voters.
