Biography

Carol Ash

Carol Ash is the Commissioner of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and as the State Historic Preservation Officer. Her nomination prompted Albany Times Union Columnist, Fred LeBrun to cite Ash as "one of the most qualified nominees in history."

Ash's vision for the future of State Parks includes improving park infrastructure and working to ensure that the agency's policies and initiatives can serve as a model in efforts to address global warming.

Other priorities identified by Ash are enhancing educational and interpretive programming throughout the system's parks and historic sites; fostering stronger relationships with community partners and connecting open spaces across the state.

Prior to her nomination as State Parks Commissioner, Ms. Ash served as Executive Director of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission, which manages more than 100,000 acres in New York and New Jersey. She was the first woman to hold the post in the 107 year history of the Park Commission.

Ash's major accomplishments at the Commission include passage of the Highlands Conservation Act in 2004; creation of the Highlands Environmental Research Institute; construction of the U.S. Senator Frank R. Lautenberg Visitor Center in Sterling Forest and construction of the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor.

Before joining the Palisades Interstate Park Commission, Ash served as New York State Director of The Nature Conservancy, a leading conservation organization working to protect ecologically important lands and waters with a mission to preserve species and natural communities by protecting their environment. While at the Nature Conservancy, Ash became involved in the successful effort to preserve Sterling Forest and helped negotiate the purchase of 15,000 acres of Whitney Park in the Adirondacks.

In 1992, Ash became the first Director of the Office of Environmental Policy, which was created to initiate proactive environmental programs within the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. She was responsible for a budget of $10 million and managed environmental issues immediately subsequent to the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center.

From 1985 to 1992, Ash served as the New York City Regional Director for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, responsible for carrying out activities related to the Environmental Conservation Law within the region. Major accomplishments during her tenure include designation of Jamaica Bay as a Critical Environmental Area; purchase of over 200 acres of threatened open space and approval of the City's Solid Waste Management Plan.

Throughout her distinguished career, Ash has been the recipient of numerous honors, including the annual Advocates Award by the Environmental Advocates of New York. She has also served as board member to many organizations that encourage environmental advocacy, the stewardship of our parks and greenways and the preservation of precious natural resources.