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| Tupper Lake, NY (From NY Times) |
Having spent my orientation trip in Tupper Lake and volunteering at the Wild Center, it wasn't hard to notice the glaring economic disparity between the center and the village. As you traverse through the streets, you will quickly notice the abandoned businesses, the run-down houses, and occasionally a "Make America Great Again" sign. However, just down the street, there lies an eighty-one-acre facility that is packed with families and tourists all summer long who are eager to spend extra money at the gift shop and concession stands. So why does it seem that Tupper Lake isn't benefitting from such a hot spot in the Adirondacks?
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| The Wild Center (From TupperLake.com) |
To be honest, I don't know the answer to that question. Let's start by learning more about Tupper Lake. What was once a proud logging town filled with beautiful lakes, forested mountains, clean air, and trout-filled streams, it has since become almost a ghost town. After a string of economic blows, the current population has less than 3,500 people and the economy is in a pretty bad shape. The town supervisor, Roger Amell, has stated that Tupper Lake will turn into a ghost town unless something changes.
Well, something is changing. A project called the Adirondack Club and Resort was approved by the Adirondack Park Agency in 2012. The resort development would be over 6,300 acres and includes 650 units of housing, a hotel, a ski area, a marina, and an equestrian center. The plan was approved after almost a decade of disagreements between environmentalists and pro-development residents. The environmental advocates want to protect the land from development while local officials believe that the resort would provide a four-season attraction which would help the failing economy of Tupper Lake and the surrounding small towns.
Once the resort is built, we will be able to answer the question I brought up earlier. Why doesn't it seem like Tupper Lake is benefiting off the Wild Center? Could it be due to the one season boom, the lack of jobs provided by the Wild Center, or is Tupper Lake to blame for their own economic failures?
Sources:
- http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/09/nyregion/in-struggling-tupper-lake-resort-project-creates-rift.html?_r=0
I feel that the Wild Center is more of a one day trip type of thing. It's kind of like going to the zoo or the aquarium, you just go for a day and then head back home or to wherever you were staying. This might contribute to why Tupper Lake isn't receiving any of the benefits from the tourism. The Wild Center only provides entertainment for one day and then people leave. The Wild Center seems more like a place where you pack your own lunch (which is exactly what we did) instead of exploring the area for something to eat. It's interesting to see how the resort will play into this. Maybe it will encourage people to stay in the area since they will have more things to do.
ReplyDeleteI think that this is a really interesting post that gets to the heart of some of the issues within the park. Is it right and fair to tell a struggling town that they can't develop land? I would really like to learn more about this proposed development and the environmental effects it may have.
ReplyDeleteI think that the resort will definitely help with improve Tupper Lake's economy. I agree with Martha, which is that the Wild Center definitely emphasizes more of the one day trip visit. I think a resort will bring more tourists to visit for longer durations, and the longer you stay the more food and attractions you need, thus boosting the economy. Of course, the resort most likely will have environmental impacts. As always, it's tough to weigh the pros of the effect on the economy and the cons of the effects on the environment.
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