N.Y. Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Law § 15.05: Standards for acquisition

§ 15.05 Standards for acquisition. 1. Lands acquired for state park

purposes pursuant to this article shall be for additions to existing

state parks or for the establishment of new state parks of substantial

acreage.

2. Lands acquired for state or municipal parks pursuant to this

article shall consist of predominately open or natural lands, including

lands under water or forested lands, in or near urban or suburban areas,

or suitable to serve the recreation needs of the expanding populations

of growing metropolitan regions, or desirable to preserve the scenery or

natural resources thereof.

3. Lands acquired by a municipality shall be:

(a) for establishing new parks of not less than fifty acres each in

area, or

(b) for expanding existing parks to not less than fifty acres each by

the addition of not less than twenty-five acres to such a park, except

that upon certification by the governing body of a city or a village

that insufficient areas of eligible land exist within said city or

village to permit the establishment or expansion of parks in accordance

with such minimum standards, the commissioner may make specific

exceptions to these minimum standards of area, provided that no new park

thus established, or existing park thus expanded shall contain less than

twenty-five acres, or

(c) for establishing or expanding existing neighborhood parks

convenient to densely-populated areas pursuant to such rules and

regulations as the state commissioner of housing and community renewal,

with the approval of the commissioner, shall prescribe.

4. Lands acquired for other than state or municipal park purposes

shall consist of lands desirable for outdoor recreation, including

public camping, fishing, hunting, boating, winter sports, and wherever

possible, to also serve multiple purposes involving the conservation and

development of natural resources, including the preservation of scenic

areas, watershed protection, forestry and reforestation.