Parks are wonderful resources for recreation and open space, but a newly opened one in New Castle also plays an important role in protecting wildlife.

According to the Journal News, Town Supervisor Barbara Garrard officially unveiled the Sunny Ridge Preserve last weekend. The ceremony was the culmination of a decade of work to create and maintain open space that links with others in the area to create a biotic corridor.

The park's catalyst was a gift of 33 acres of open space in 1999 from a local resident. The town of New Castle later purchased adjoining parcels, one of which had been the subject of a home development plan that was scrapped.

"The whole idea of a biotic corridor is that animals don't observe political borders," Gerrard said.