State parks commissioner to lead Open Space Institute

Kulleseid credited for finding ways to make parks accessible

By James M. Odato

State Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid is replacing the long-time head of the Open Space Institute, according to an announcement sent Tuesday to the OSI community.   

Kulleseid, 60, who formerly worked at OSI, takes the post held by Christopher J. “Kim” Elliman, 70, since 2004. Elliman announced plans to retire last spring.

The Open Space Institute, with revenues of more than $53 million in 2022, protects and conserves land in the eastern United States to fight climate change and for clean drinking water, wildlife habitat, healthy communities and parks access. One of its endowments is for acquiring and holding land in the Adirondacks.

The incoming president and CEO is credited by OSI for enhancing “public access to open space, strategic use of land protection strategies to address climate change and biodiversity loss” and for exemplary management and leadership skills. 

During his earlier eight-year stint at the organization, Kulleseid directed the OSI’s parks initiative, aimed at making protected land more accessible and welcoming to all people. 

He also worked at the Trust for Public Land and served as deputy commissioner for Open Space Protection at New York State Parks. He is a graduate of the Forest School at the Yale School of the Environment and Stanford Law School.

Since 2019, he served as the state’s parks commissioner, a post that pays $205,000 a year, opening the Shirley Chisholm State Park in Brooklyn; creating a new welcome center at Niagara Falls State Park; and christening the Jones Beach Energy & Nature Center on Long Island, the Sojourner Truth State Park in Kingston and the Autism Nature Trail in Letchworth State Park.

Since 1974, OSI has protected more than 2.4 million acres in the East and and in Canada, OSI said in a press release on Wednesday announcing Kulleseid’s appointment. OSI said it conducted a nationwide search, using consultants, to identify him as the successor to Elliman, the leader of OSI since 2004, the press release said.

Editor’s note: This post was updated Wednesday to add details from OSI and tax documents.

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