Press Release
June 05, 1998
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Brian Vattimo
518/486-1868
STATE PARKS COMMISSIONER ANNOUNCES MANAGER FOR STERLING FOREST STATE PARK
(Albany, New York June 5, 1998 ...) New York State Parks Commissioner Bernadette Castro today announced the appointment of James R. Gell as the first manager of the newly-acquired 15,280-acre Sterling Forest State Park in Orange County.
"Jim brings a wealth of experience from 20 years of managing parks during his 26 years with our agency," said Commissioner Castro. "He has also been actively involved fostering mutually beneficial partnerships with community, private and other public agencies, such as the creation of the first farmers' market operated in a state park."
Gell is being promoted from James Baird State Park, where he has been park manager for 15 years.
Gell has an associate's degree in Natural Resources Conservation from SUNY at Morrisville with an emphasis on Fisheries Management.
"Jim's longstanding sense of environmental stewardship will prove essential to managing this unique and extremely valuable watershed that contributes to the clean drinking water for more than two million people," said Commissioner Castro.
As park manager at Sterling Forest State Park, Gell will maintain the quality of its strategically located watershed resources, scenic open spaces and natural habitats, and provide recreational opportunities for the public. In addition to overseeing the administration, operations and maintenance, Gell will be instrumental in preparing the master plan to determine future use and protection of the new state park.