Clarkstown is blessed with an abundance of parks, recreational facilities, and highly valuable
natural resources that provide countless benefits to the public. When you think about what
makes our town a desirable place to live, you would probably note the wide access we have to
outdoor recreation spaces and parkland such as Lake Nanuet and the Congers Lake Trailway. If
you grew up or raised a family here, you likely have fond memories of quality time spent at the
pool, running around at one of our playgrounds, playing sports on town fields, or just walking
around the lake and bonding as a family.
We can’t put a price on memories, but we now have the ability to quantify what our parks are
worth above and beyond the per-acre assessment of the land upon which they are located. Our
natural assets often generate measurable economic value for governments and their residents,
but until recently, this value has not been systematically tracked, documented, or incorporated
into planning or fiscal decision-making. Businesses, financial institutions, and governments are
increasingly working to understand and account for their economic dependencies on nature,
recognizing that the health of natural systems is directly tied to long-term economic stability and
fiscal resilience. Natural and recreational resources, including forests, wetlands, streams, open
space, agricultural lands, and parks provide essential and valuable services to residents. These
services include clean water, flood protection, air quality, and recreational opportunities. Taken
as a whole, these resources are now being quantified as "Natural Capital.
On Tuesday, May 5, 2026, the Town Council and I unanimously adopted a forward-thinking
"Natural Capital" resolution. This resolution positions Clarkstown to be a national local
government leader in implementing natural capital accounting principles. Factoring in the full
economic value of natural capital systems can help positively impact municipal credit ratings
and reduce borrowing costs. This initiative can also help identify additional values in major
infrastructure projects and grant applications. Clarkstown will be working with leading natural
capital academic and non-profit leaders to develop and implement these principles in
Clarkstown to benefit our taxpayers.
This is yet another forward-thinking initiative by the Town of Clarkstown to protect our
environment and natural resources. It complements the Town’s ongoing open space
preservation efforts, clean energy efforts, and other leading green initiatives that have earned
Clarkstown recognition as the "Greenest Town" in Rockland County.
