New York, NY, 4/19/06: Officials from The Trust for Public Land joined New York Governor George E. Pataki and Donald Trump to announce a land donation of two parcels in Westchester and Putnam counties that will become New York's 174th state park.

The 436-acre property, to be named Donald J. Trump State Park, includes the 282-acre Indian Hill site located in the towns of Putnam Valley and Yorktown and the 154-acre French Hill site in Yorktown.

"The establishment of Donald J. Trump State Park will increase public access to scenic landscapes and provide additional recreational opportunities for families and visitors to the region. On behalf of the people of the Empire State, I express our gratitude to Donald Trump for his vision and commitment to preserve the natural resource of this property for the benefit of future generations," said Governor Pataki.

"I have always loved the city and state of New York and this is my way of trying to give something back. I hope that these 436 acres of property will turn into one of the most beautiful parks anywhere in the world," said Donald J. Trump.

The Trust for Public Land had initial meetings with Mr. Trump last fall to discuss the properties and their great value as open space.

"Mr. Trump was very interested in open space conservation and open to whatever possibilities we might propose. We are thrilled that those early discussions have now resulted this donation for a new state park," said Rose Harvey, senior vice president of The Trust for Public Land. "Governor Pataki is leading the way when it comes to creating new parks for New Yorkers, and Donald Trump is right there with him, generously donating this land to benefit all of us."

The 282-acre Indian Hill property, where an announcement event was held, straddles the Westchester County/Putnam County border with 54 acres in the Town of Yorktown, Westchester County, and 228 acres in the Town of Putnam Valley, Putnam County. It is situated east of the Taconic State Parkway, in close proximity to both the Clarence Fahnestock and Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) State Parks. The new parkland is a mix of heavily wooded lands, large open meadows, and a large wetland running north/south along the eastern boundary.

The 153.8-acre French Hill site is located just south of the FDR State Park in Westchester County. The new parkland is heavily wooded and contains a centrally located 20-acre state designated wetland, the origin of two headwater streams, French Hill Brook and Dogwood Creek. The entire parcel is located within the New York City Watershed Area and is easily accessible from the Taconic State Parkway. French Hill got its name because French General Rochambeau's troops camped in the vicinity before and after they helped the Americans win a decisive battle in October 1781 against the British at Yorktown, Virginia. It is part of the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route, included in Heritage New York's American Revolutionary War Heritage Trail and the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area.

State Parks Commissioner Bernadette Castro said, "This magnificent donation highlights the long-term success of fostering public/private partnerships as we continue to implement Governor Pataki's vision for the environment and open space protection. Donald Trump's incredible gift will have a lasting impact on our parklands, opening up public access to additional outdoor recreation and helping preserve the rich array of natural resources found in the Hudson Valley. Through his generosity, New Yorkers and their families will now be able to enjoy these parklands for years to come."

This latest addition to state parkland furthers the longstanding environmental goals set by the governor that have made New York a national leader in open space protection and natural resource stewardship. Since 1995, Governor Pataki has opened 24 new state parks and announced expansions to existing parks in every region of the state . The Trust for Public Land has helped the state acquire 52 properties for these new parks and parks expansions, totaling more than 37,500 acres.

The Trust for Public Land is a national nonprofit land conservation organization that conserves land for people to enjoy as parks, gardens, and natural areas, ensuring livable communities for generations to come. Since 1972, TPL (www.tpl.org) has helped protect two million acres of land in 46 states, including more than 78,500 acres in New York. In 1991, TPL purchased 109 acres for the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail. Since 1991, thousands of local residents and visitors have enjoyed the trail, which stretches 12.2 miles between Gardiner and New Paltz.