“Capitalizing” On Clarkstown’s Natural Resources

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.