Peekskill, NY – New York State voters have approved a Constitutional Amendment, signified as Proposition 1 on their 2025 ballots, allowing the Mount Van Hoevenberg Olympic Sports Complex (MVH) in Essex County near Lake Placid to expand its Nordic skiing and biathlon trails while coming into compliance with the state’s “Forever Wild” clause. 

The newly approved amendment also allows New York to purchase and add 2,500 acres of land into the Adirondack Forest Preserve as an offset to past expansion at MVH on 323 acres of the state’s constitutionally protected Forest Preserve, which is operated by the Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA). The amendment will result in a net addition of 2,177 acres to the Forest Preserve.

New York State Senator Pete Harckham, chair of the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee, and former State Assemblyman D. Billy Jones (who resigned from office in September to join the administration at Clinton Community College) introduced the bipartisan-backed bill (S.5227 / A.7454) calling for the Constitutional Amendment in consecutive legislative sessions in order to be placed on this year’s statewide ballot.

Senator Harckham said, “The Mount Van Hoevenberg Olympic Sports Complex is a beloved, world-class recreation area and important economic driver for the state’s North Country, and this Constitutional Amendment will allow management of existing facilities while also welcoming additional pristine—and protected—wilderness into the Adirondack Forest Preserve. A suitable resolution but one that shows why we must adhere to the letter of the law and respect our state’s Constitution. I thank Billy Jones for his partnership on the legislation, as well as the many land conservationists and environmentalists for contributing their crucial support.”

 The “Forever Wild” clause in the New York State Constitution declares that preserved land “shall be forever kept as wild forest lands”—a protection that pertains to the State Forest Preserve in Adirondack Park. Over the years, much of the 1,039-acre MVH was built on land owned by the Town of Elba, which leases it to ORDA. 

But when plans to update MVH were begun a few years ago it was discovered that new roads, buildings, and parking lots had been constructed since the 1980s on a portion of the state’s constitutionally protected Forest Preserve. 

MVH’s rich history—it was the site of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid—have made it one of the state’s top year-round tourist destinations. 

Claudia Braymer, Executive Director of Protect the Adirondacks, said, “The passage of Proposition 1 is important because it ensures that the Nordic skiing and biathlon facilities already at Mount Van Hoevenberg are properly authorized by the Constitution and it restricts the future use of that property to no more than 323 acres. In addition, 2,500 acres of new land will now be added to the Forest Preserve.” 

Patrick McClellan, Policy Director for the New York League of Conservation Voters, said, “NYLCV urged all New Yorkers to vote yes on Proposition 1 so the best of the Adirondacks could be preserved without having to sacrifice the state’s Winter Olympic heritage and a major driver of economic activity. Proposition 1 will protect wildlands while enabling the greater Lake Placid region to continue hosting world-class sporting events that draw athletes and visitors from around the world—the best-case scenario for both the human and natural communities of the Adirondacks.”

Cortney Worrall, Executive Director of the Adirondack Mountain Club, said, “We are so pleased that New Yorkers have voted to pass Proposition 1. This measure is an important step forward for the Adirondack Park—resolving a long-standing constitutional issue while expanding the Forest Preserve by 2,500 acres. It also recognizes the essential role that outdoor recreation plays in supporting local economies throughout the region. From hiking and skiing to paddling and camping, these activities not only connect people to nature but also sustain jobs, small businesses, and vibrant communities. We commend voters for supporting the proposition. It not only reinforces the protections of Article 14 for the Forest Preserve in the New York State Constitution but strengthens the economic vitality of the Adirondack Park.”

Raul J. Aguirre, Executive Director of the Adirondack Council, said, “This amendment strengthens accountability for how state agencies manage and protect one of New York’s greatest natural assets, the public lands of the Adirondack Park. It represents a clear vote of confidence in both the Park’s wild lands and the communities that depend on them, enabling Lake Placid and its neighbors to sustain a vibrant winter economy as international sporting events bring visitors and athletes from around the world. This outcome underscores how thoughtful environmental stewardship and smart economic development can work hand in hand to strengthen the Adirondack Park for generations to come.”