Senator James Skoufis is pushing for the state’s final budget to include funding, planning, and design for Lake Sebago in Harriman State Park to be reopened.
In October of 2019, Senator Skoufis sent a letter to the Palisades Interstate Park Commission to reopen Sebago Beach. Months later, the pandemic hit, causing an enormous surge from residents and visitors to the Hudson Valley, including visitors to Harriman State Park.
In 2019, a non-pandemic year, approximately 400,000 people visited Lake Tiorati and Lake Welch — this number skyrocketed in 2020. For years, Lake Sebago was one of the most popular swimming spots in the Hudson Valley but it has been closed since 2011 when it was damaged by Hurricane Irene. Throughout the spring and summer months, other beaches in Harriman State Park like Lake Tiorati and Lake Welch, routinely fill to capacity on weekends and have to close by midday. If Sebago Beach were to reopen, it would make beaches in the park much more accessible to people.
“Something we have all learned in the last year is that physical health is mental health, and mental health is physical health,” Skoufis said. “I am urging my colleagues in the Legislature, as well as partners at the Palisades Interstate Park Commission to make it a priority to re-open this beloved amenity to the public. I’m confident that by working together, we can secure the necessary resources in this year’s budget to make this a reality.”
