Parks are wonderful resources for recreation and open space, but a newly opened one in New Castle [1] also plays an important role in protecting wildlife.

According to the Journal News [2], 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.