Frontcountry High Peaks Stewards in place for Route 73 Corridor in Keene

Keene, N.Y. (06/29/2019) — The Town of Keene, the Paul Smith's College Adirondack Watershed Institute (AWI), and the Paul Smith's College adventure guides are providing information and education to hikers in the High Peaks through a new Frontcountry steward program. Stewards will be positioned in the Town of Keene along Route 73.

Stewards will be at the Marcy Field parking lot on the corner of Airport Road and Route 73, Wednesday through Sunday and on holidays. Stewards will be in the Roaring Brook, Giant, and Chapel Pond areas Friday through Sunday in the summer and weekends through Columbus Day with extended hours during busy weekends.

Frontcountry stewards will be available to educate hikers about Leave No Trace principles such as hiking preparedness and minimizing impacts to natural resources. Additionally, stewards will inform hikers about the new no parking regulations along Route 73 and the temporary closure of the Garden parking lot for bridge construction. Partners in this effort recognize the need for face to face interactions to help hikers enjoy their outdoor experience and understand wilderness regulations and ethics.

The new program is sponsored by the Town of Keene and Paul Smith's College and supported by a generous grant from the Adirondack 46'ers. The program is modeled in part after the 46'ers Trailhead Steward Program at Cascade Mountain.

Outdoor recreation is the foundation of Keene's healthy economy, and educating hikers is a key component of protecting the natural resources that are the basis for outdoor recreation in the region. The AWI is a program of Paul Smith's College and operates more than 60 of boat launch inspection and decontamination stations around the region to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. Their mission is to protect clean water, conserve habitat and support the health and well-being of the people in the Adirondacks. Paul Smith's College adventure guides provides guide services to the general public and real-world experiences for students.

Information about the Town of Keene Shuttle: www.townofkeeneny.com/2019-garden-hiker-shuttle-information

More information on the Frontcountry Stewards: www.adkwatershed.org/trailhead-information

Information on parking restrictions along Route 73: www.dec.ny.gov/press/117106.html

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