State subcommittee accepts gift of Fort Southwest Point for new historic state park

The Executive Subcommittee of the State Building Commission on June 23 voted to accept a gift of land from the City of Kingston to create Fort Southwest Point as a new historic state park.

Bill Avent, senior real property manager for the Department of Environment and Conservation, told the subcommittee that transaction 2504OO5 is a request to receive the gift and that Fort Southwest Point "has been approved by the Governor's office to become the newest state park" and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places with "significant archaeological features." Avent said operations funding and personnel are being put in place and that the transfer will occur "as soon as we possibly can."

The subcommittee approved the request by voice vote after a motion and second; no opposing votes were recorded in the transcript.

Why it matters: Fort Southwest Point is a site with identified archaeological significance and will be added to the state park system if the gift and transfer proceed as described by DECON staff. The subcommittee's action moves custody of the property from the City of Kingston toward state management and triggers operational planning by the Department of Environment and Conservation.

Details and context: Avent said the fort was constructed in 1797 by federal troops in what was then the Southwest Territory and that the parcels are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and contain significant archaeological features. When asked about timing, Avent said the department already has an operational budget and is placing personnel, so the transition will occur as soon as feasible. The transcript records a motion, a second, and a voice vote; the chair called for ayes and declared the motion passed.

What the record shows: The transcript identifies the request as transaction 2504OO5 and records the subcommittee's acceptance; no effective date for transfer or a public opening date was specified in the discussion.

Next steps: Department of Environment and Conservation staff indicated operational planning is under way; the transcript does not specify a formal timeline, permit or additional approvals required beyond the gift acceptance recorded at the meeting.