A North Country state senator is calling on the Adirondack Park Agency (APA) to recommend that over 20,000 acres of recently acquired land be promoted to boost tourism and create jobs.

Sen. Patty Ritchie, R-Heuvelton, recommends that the land be classified in a way that would allow it to be used for recreational activities, which in turn would boost economic activity.

Ritchie represents the western half of St. Lawrence County including Ogdensburg, Canton and Gouverneur.

Earlier this year, the state completed its largest Adirondack land acquisition in over a century when it purchased the Boreas Ponds Tract from the Finch, Pruyn & Company paper company. The APA is weighing how to classify the land.

In a letter sent today to the APA, Ritchie called on the agency to pursue a classification that would strike a balance between promoting economic activity through outdoor recreation and protecting New York’s natural beauty.

“From snowmobiling and boating to hiking and snowshoeing, opportunities for outdoor recreation in New York State—and especially in places like Adirondack Park—are second to none,” said Ritchie in her letter. “It’s these activities that allow people of all ages, many of whom reside in my district, to experience the beauty of nature, take in the fresh air and get active.”

“Equally as important is the fact that New York’s natural resources and the opportunities they support for outdoor recreation are major drivers of our economy, generating billions of dollars annually, attracting tourists and creating jobs in communities throughout our state. With the Boreas Ponds Tract, New York State has a great opportunity to tap into the potential this land has for further increasing economic activity and attracting tourists, while at the same time preserving the beauty of this special region of the Empire State,” the senator said.

The APA will accept comments on the classification until friday and then will make recommendations to the governor.