Officials from the Department of Environmental Conservation visited Forestport Elementary School to announce that Punkeyville State Forest was picked as the winning name.

Historically, the name was appropriate because Punkeyville was the name of the settlement that is now Forestport.

State Senator Joe Griffo says the new name is fitting for such a community, saying it "reflects the history of the Mohawk Valley and of our ancestors who helped settle the region."

Students submitted their own names for the forest, which were then whittled down by the DEC, local conservation groups and the Adirondack School District.

The winning name came from two students, 5th grader, Phoenix Swasey, and 4th grader, Dylan Cabic, with second prize going to 5th grader Joshuah Guernsey, who submitted the name "Wildcat State Forest."

Each winning student was presented with a plaque featuring the forest's name, and everyone was invited to watch the new Punkeyville State Forest sign get hung.

DEC officials were in cooperation with the Tug Hill Commission and the Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust on the project.

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