The Town of Ulysses recently accepted transfer of ownership of Smith Woods in Trumansburg, a 32-acre site that is one of the largest remaining old-growth forests in central New York.
The Board of Trustees of the Paleontological Research Institution voted Sept. 30 to transfer ownership of Smith Woods in Trumansburg.
The transfer ensures that one of central New York’s most remarkable natural areas will remain protected and accessible for generations to come, officials said. The property was first established as a public park in 1909 by the family of Henry A. Smith, a New York City businessman who purchased the woods in the 1870s and is buried in Trumansburg’s Grove Cemetery.
“This site has been a valuable resource for students from elementary school through college who want to learn what forests looked like prior to European colonization,” said Marvin Pritts, PRI Trustee and Ulysses resident. “Adults in this community and beyond have appreciated the history and beauty of the woods. I’m delighted that the Town of Ulysses will steward the woods for generations to come.”
Ulysses Town Supervisor Katelin Olson said she is grateful to PRI for their stewardship of Smith Woods, and their donation of the property to the Town of Ulysses.
“This incredible site will continue to be open to the public, and an important educational and environmental resource for future generations,” Olson said.
Officials said for nearly a century, the forest was stewarded by a volunteer Board of Trustees before being transferred to the Cayuga Nature Center in 2007.
In 2013, the Nature Center merged with Paleontological Research Institution, bringing Smith Woods under PRI’s care.
Under PRI’s stewardship, Smith Woods became not only a cherished community resource but also an outdoor classroom.
Officials said PRI expanded educational programming in the forest and, in partnership with local supporters, enclosed the property with a protective deer fence. This effort allowed native wildflowers and young trees to regenerate, restoring some of the forest’s ecological balance.
In 2017, PRI published a book on the natural and human history of the forest, with a second edition released in 2021.
While PRI continues to navigate significant organizational challenges, the transfer of Smith Woods reflects PRI’s commitment to ensuring that this extraordinary forest remains a living treasure for the people of Trumansburg and beyond, the organization said.
The Town of Ulysses will now take on stewardship of the property, preserving its legacy as a place of natural beauty, history, and community connection.
This article originally appeared on Ithaca Journal: ‘Incredible’ Smith Woods donated to Finger Lakes town. What it means for public access
Reporting by Jeff Smith, Ithaca Journal / Ithaca Journal
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