Town of Long Lake announces historic gift: town to receive proceeds from sale of 36,600-acre Whitney Park
At a special meeting held on Friday, March 7 at the Long Lake Town Hall, Supervisor Clay Arsenault and Town Board Members Mark Bird, Thomas Donnelly and Nathan Hosley announced that the late John Hendrickson, who passed away last August, designated the Town of Long Lake as the sole beneficiary of net proceeds from the expected sale of Whitney Park, a celebrated and historically significant 36,600-acre property.
Whitney Park includes 22 lakes and ponds, over 100 miles of undeveloped shoreline, and an historic Adirondack Great Camp. The Whitney family acquired the property in the late 1890s and have maintained it for more than 125 years, most recently through the responsible stewardship of Mr. Hendrickson and his late wife Marylou Whitney.
“This is an historic moment and one of the most significant events in the town’s history,” said Supervisor Arsenault. “John Hendrickson and Marylou Whitney were strong supporters of Long Lake during their lifetimes. They were beloved and respected in this community and contributed generously to the Long Lake Library, our medical center, our celebrated fireworks displays, and countless other causes. But their generosity through the years did not adequately prepare us to learn that John left the town with a gift of this magnitude and transformational potential. It is totally unexpected, amazing, and will provide incredible opportunities for our community that will have a profound and positive impact for generations to come.”
Pursuant to Mr. Hendrickson’s wishes, his estate will manage the continued marketing and sale of the property, which began in 2020. The sale process will require the fulfillment of legal procedures and obligations, including ensuring that all the obligations of the estate are properly settled. The estate will then deliver the net sale proceeds to the town. Though the actual amount of money that Long Lake receives will not be known until the property is sold, large property is currently listed at more than $100 million.
There are no restrictions on how the town must use the funds. Supervisor Arsenault and his colleagues affirmed their commitment that night to structure an open and deliberative community
process to determine specific uses based on the needs of Long Lake and its residents, and to protect large amounts of this gift to ensure a continued source of funds for generations to come.
“My colleagues and I will treat this gift with the respect it deserves. Even though it may take several years for Long Lake to receive funds, we will immediately start thinking about how we will manage this gift in a way that is responsible, transparent, and faithful to John’s memory,” said Supervisor Arsenault.
“We have our Comprehensive Plan to guide us, which is a good start. Tonight, we redouble our commitment to an open, inclusive planning process that invites inspection and ensures the town’s funds will serve all of our residents both today and in decades to come. We vow to honor John and Marylou’s legacy by making sure this gift serves the public good and reaches as many people as possible, for as long into the future as possible.”
The Town of Long Lake, located in the Adirondack Mountains of Hamilton County, NY, is home to approximately 800 residents and is a year-round vacation destination. Long Lake, which also includes the Hamlet of Raquette Lake, encompasses over 449 square miles. Long Lake is known for its scenic beauty, abundant wildlife, and strong sense of community. It is surrounded by the beauty of its mountains and waterways including Long Lake and Raquette Lake. Visitors and residents enjoy a variety of recreational activities throughout all four seasons including boating, paddling, hunting, fishing, biking, skiing, snowmobiling, hiking, and camping.
Editor’s note: this press release was provided by Ryan Moore of Behan Communications, a public relations and marketing firm. The photo was provided by John Hendrickson.