This is the inspiring story of the twenty-five-year-long effort to preserve Sterling Forest, a tract of rugged, upland terrain encompassing twenty thousand acres within the New York–New Jersey Highlands. Barely forty miles northwest of New York City, Sterling Forest seemed destined to suffer the same fate that had befallen thousands of acres of land in this rapidly suburbanizing corridor. The fight to save Sterling Forest brought together one of the largest coalitions of environmental groups and government entities ever assembled. Despite the loose, sometimes fractious nature of the alliance, the coalition managed to extract support from Congress, New York State, New Jersey, and private donors, while at the same time negotiating a contract to purchase the land from the Sterling Forest Corporation, a company that vigorously protected its financial interests at every turn. Deemed by some to be one of the more remarkable environmental victories of the 1990s, the successful outcome of the Sterling Forest struggle—a large state park within easy access of millions of people and a protected supply of water to New Jersey residents—embodied virtually every facet of land-use conflict. It provides a model for saving other areas where critical wild lands are threatened by development.

Table of Contents:
List of Illustrations Foreword by Richard Botshon and Lisa Botshon 1. A Forest Is at Stake 2. Money from the Colonial Rocks Sterling Forest—A gem of Highlands real estate Iron mines flourish, then fade Key tracts change hands Early conservation efforts in the Highlands The nineteenth and twentieth century preservation movement emerges 3. The Sprawl Wars Begin Looking at land as a high-profit investment Sprawl imposes major changes in the region Big plans afoot for the forest Major constraints to large-scale subdivision The Sterling Forest Corporation’s first plan The corporation’s next plan: Sterling One The people of Tuxedo versus the corporation Orange County welcomes money from sprawl 4. The Art of Launching a (Forest) Preservation Movement, 1985–1990 Protecting the Appalachian Trail in the 1980s, piece by piece As the grassroots mobilizes . . . . . . the corporation reinvents itself The death and life of a Thruway Exit in Tuxedo “Convergence of concern about Sterling Forest” A new strategic element: The Sterling Forest Coalition The corporation strikes back Heimbach brought in as development point man The pivotal Kostmayer hearing on preservation sets the federal stage The recalcitrance of Benjamin Gilman 5. New Corporate Actions Make Enviros Scramble The parent corporation loses money big time Need cash? Float a plan for 14,500 houses The very first federal money—$250,000 for a Highlands study The corporation envisions murals, fountains, and some trees But forest watchers see a Swiss-cheese forest Asking the feds for big bucks New York barely hangs on as a player Divisions in the environmental ranks A forest on two launch pads 6. Government Sees Green The partial purchase proposal: Selling the forest for seed money New players in Washington: Three supporters introduce key House legislation The Park Service gets balky Stateside: New Jersey firms up its commitment Stateside: New York State creates a new open space funding source The downward spiral of Home Holdings 7. Turning the Grassroots into a Fighting Force Sterling Forest Coalition moves to the rear; the new Sterling Forest Resources is launched The Public Private Partnership to Save Sterling Forest Environmental review of the corporation’s project begins The public gets its say 8. Bounced Around in the Washington Turf Wars Contract with America holds up congressional action New York wants it to happen The diabolical land swap proposals of 1996 Dousing the Contract with America brushfire Back to the negotiating table Sales contract for 90 percent of the forest Back to the Washington melee Time is running out 9. The Open Space Movement Saves a Highlands Jewel The federal and state governments come through, and so does the private sector Contract compromises mar the deal New York and New Jersey get their new park The corporation still banks on a piece of the rock 10. A New Vision for Land Preservation How preservation prevailed The fight for open space continues Sprawl is not inevitable Epilogue by Jürgen Wekerle Notes Index