Conserving Land • Protecting Resources
Since 1987
 

As of January 1, 2024, the Rensselaer Land Trust has merged with the Rensselaer Plateau Alliance. For all questions regarding donations, events, land, or other matters, please visit www.rensselaerplateau.org or call 518-712-9211. For questions about the merger, use extension 101 to speak with Jim Bonesteel. You can expect a new name and logo for our merged organization by Spring / Summer 2024 and a new website by the end of the year!

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As we continue to adjust to the many challenges posed by the COVID-19 outbreak, we also want to remind you of our commitment to the health and well-being of our staff and board, volunteers, members, visitors to our nature preserves, and our neighbors.

RLT recognizes that our preserves are popular places for recreation, exercise, and solace during the pandemic. We very much understand your need for fresh air and to spend time outdoors enjoying nature, especially as the weather begins to warm.

To keep everyone as safe as possible we strongly encourage you to follow the guidance suggested to reduce the spread of COVID-19 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the State of New York, including “stay at home” restrictions and social distancing.

While RLT’s preserves remain open, we suggest you enjoy the outdoors near your home, and not travel far to get to our preserves. We especially request that you not visit our preserves if you are exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms including fever, headache, and shortness of breath, or have been diagnosed with COVID-19 previously, since transmission rates and circumstances remain unclear.

If you choose to visit our preserves we ask that you please stay a minimum of 6 feet from other visitors, warn others of your presence prior to passing and step off the trail, as needed, to pass and maintain a six foot distance. Please avoid grouping in parking areas or near the information kiosks.

Should you arrive to a full parking lot at one of our preserves, please consider visiting a nearby preserve or returning when the lot is less crowded. Please do not park along the road. Click HERE for a list of RLT preserves.

We also ask that you respect the privacy and safety of our neighbors by staying on our trails and not parking on private property.

Your assistance will be critical in our ability to keep our preserves open. Please “carry-in/carry-out” any items you bring with you and do not leave any trash behind. In addition, please leash your pet and clean up after them. Please note too that our staff and volunteers will not be out regularly clearing fallen trees or addressing other trail needs, so you may find the trails in rougher shape than you remember. Please let us know of any significant maintenance or safety issues you discover by emailing John Winter: jwinter@renstrust.org

For now, RLT hopes to keep our preserves open as we believe that visitors can maintain social distancing. However if we learn that crowds are forming and it is impossible to maintain good distance on our preserves, we may need to close them for everyone’s health and safety.

Our preserve policies will be updated, as necessary, based on emerging public health information. Please visit our website at www.renstrust.org for current information.

We thank you for your cooperation and extend our best wishes to you and your family for good health and peace of mind during this difficult time.


John Winter, Executive Director

Bob Crowley, President