Governor Kathy Hochul today announced $1.8 million in grants to support 27 not-for-profit organizations involved with stewardship of state parks, trails, historic sites and other public lands. The grants support public private partnerships leveraging private funds for new state park amenities, to engage in state park & historic site maintenance and beautification projects, and to provide educational programming and special events. The focus of this round is on the 2024 New York State Park Centennial Celebration, which promotes public use of the parks.

 

“Our state parks, trails, forests and historic sites offer some of the best outdoor recreational and cultural opportunities found anywhere in the world,” Governor Hochul said. “Friends Groups are crucial to helping our State Parks succeed, and these grants will help leverage their hard work to make our State Park system even better for all.”

 

The Park and Trail Partnership Grant program is funded through the state Environmental Protection Fund. Grants are administered by Parks & Trails New York, in partnership with the Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation and the Department of Environmental Conservation. This ninth round of awards will be matched by over $350,000 in private funds. Recipients must raise outside funding of at least 10 percent of their total project budgets.

 

State Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid said, "Our friends Groups and volunteers are a big reason for the enduring success of the New York State park system. As we head into our 100th anniversary in 2024, I applaud Governor Hochul for helping these grassroots Friends organizations become even more effective partners for the coming decades.”

 

State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos said, "The partnership of friends groups and not-for-profit stewardship organizations is critical to DEC’s sustained efforts to advance conservation, encourage responsible recreation, and improve visitor access on State lands. Thanks to Governor Hochul’s support, the $1.8 million in grants announced today bolsters this important and ongoing work to improve State lands, sites, and facilities."

 

Parks & Trails New York Executive Director Paul Steely White said, “Behind many of our favorite outdoor experiences--hikes, picnics with our family, bike rides--there is a hard-working local organization making that experience possible.  These amazing grassroots organizations do so much with elbow grease, expertise, and volunteerism...but they also need the critical financial assistance our Park and Trail Partnership Grants provide.  We are proud to work with OPHRP to ensure these groups, and the crucial work they do for our public lands, are supported in the benefit they provide for our communities.  We are proud we've helped enable what literally amounts to billions of breathtaking experiences every year in our parks, greenway trails and other public lands.”

 

This year’s cohort of PTPG grant recipients are all pursuing different projects– from trail restoration at Bannerman Castle to the installation of an ADA kayak launch at Point au Roche– but they all add up to a healthier, happier New York just in time for the NYS Parks Centennial celebration.

 

Central

 

Friends of Lorenzo ($8,562) for the first phase of creating a digital finding aid for the Lorenzo State Historic Site archives by purchasing industry leading equipment for an entry level digitization system to digitally preserve the Lorenzo archives.

 

Friends of Rogers Environmental Education Center ($62,400) to hire a Community Engagement Coordinator who will develop culturally relevant educational programming, invite participation in community science initiatives, and build partnerships with communities to support stewardship of Rogers property.

 

Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum ($88,000) to hire a Coordinator of Programming and Site Operations who will be responsible for the daily operations, interpretative and education programming (on-site, off-site, and virtually), social media marketing and communications, volunteer management, special events, and gift shop operations.

 

Long Island

 

Atlantic Marine Conservation Society ($62,280) to create exhibits and events appreciating eastern Long Island’s natural resources from the perspective of Native American tradition and contemporary scientific study, linking ongoing conservation activities at Hallock State Park Preserve with Native appreciation of natural resources.

 

New York City

 

Friends of Gantry Plaza State Park ($10,625) to purchase additional trash cans to assist NYS Parks with replacing all receptacles in the park, increasing the number available to accommodate the significant rise in park usership.

 

Hudson Valley

 

Mohonk Preserve, Inc. ($41,000) to create a capital improvement plan for the Samuel F. Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground that considers the water system, drainage, septic, trash and recycling, staff housing, parking, and accessibility.

 

Friends of Mills Mansion ($300,000) to restore the walls and ceilings of the mansion's historic kitchen creating a new space for programming at Staatsburgh State Historic Site.

 

Little Stony Point Citizens Association, Inc. ($30,593) to create safer public access to Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve at Little Stony Point by re-engineering the gateway trail at Fair Street, installing interpretative signage along the way to raise awareness of their mission and the NYS Parks Centennial, and to provide ADA access to programming at the Volunteer Center and the Park by resurfacing the parking lot and bridge ramp entryways.

 

Bannerman Castle Trust ($107,100) to repair the historic trails from the waterfront dock to the new section of the North Trail. The project includes replacing two floating docks, repairing steps on the staircase, installing a new outdoor classroom/multi-purpose deck, replacing the concrete sidewalk, and installing railing on the middle section of the North Trail.

 

Walkway Over the Hudson ($33,740) to create a strategic plan to guide the next phase of its growth by engaging the public and multiple diverse stakeholders to determine how the Walkway can be a true resource to the community.

 

Capital Region

 

Friends of Five Rivers ($27,638) to increase marketing and outreach throughout the greater Capital Region to raise awareness of the organization, enhance its mission and partnership with Five Rivers, and to ultimately drive up community engagement, membership, and volunteerism.

 

Upper Hudson Northern Catskill Natural Resource Trust dba Greene Land Trust ($26,500) for the replacement and sizing of a washed-out culvert at Brandow Point Unique Area including correcting the hanging culvert at the outlet to reconnect the stream with the Hudson River.

 

Friends of Schuyler Mansion ($33,264) for a floor cloth, drapes, and accessories for the first floor parlor. The project also includes an 18th century fabric catalogue repro for a tactile experience, and a partnership with The Center for Independent Living to teach descriptive interpretation for visual impairments and for those who learn differently.

 

Saratoga Mountain Bike Association ($11,835) to hire a website designer to create a new user-friendly website that brings together function and accessibility as well as new marketing and promotional materials to help increase membership and visibility.

 

Friends of Clermont ($54,000) to restore a historic garden wall that will allow for the replanting of flowers and plants within the garden, improving it for future programs and events.

 

Harlem Valley Rail Trail Association ($125,100) to build capacity and expand its outreach by hiring a professional marketing, fundraising, and communications firm. The firm will aid the organization with rebranding, creating promotional materials, overhauling web and social media design, and devising a multi-year plan to raise funds for the completion of the trail.

 

Central Region

 

Friends of Fillmore Glen State Park ($8,600) for a storage shed that will provide a central location to store equipment and supplies for the many activities The Friends of Fillmore Glen put on in the park.

 

Finger Lakes

 

Friends of Hamlin Beach State Park ($20,000) to build organizational capacity and expand membership through the creation of a website, the design of new promotional materials, creation of a recycling program, and the development of new partnerships.

 

Friends of Letchworth State Park ($39,700) to fund the production of a series of high-quality videos portraying Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) life and culture written and produced by Haudenosaunee presenters.

 

North Country

 

Adirondack Rail Trail Association ($75,400) to fund a comprehensive capacity-building initiative including the development of a multi-year strategic plan, revenue-generating activities, a volunteer program, and a marketing campaign plan.

 

Cranberry Lake Mountaineers Snowmobile Club, INC ($65,899) to rehabilitate sections of trails in the Grass River Complex to improve safety, enhance accessibility, and minimize the detrimental effects of increasing trail use.

 

Friends of Point au Roche State Park ($17,000) for the installation of an adaptive kayak launch system at the head of Deep Bay in Lake Champlain that will allow physically challenged individuals to access and launch themselves.

 

Winona Forest Recreation Association ($140,000) for the purchase of a highly effective and functional snowcat winter trail grooming machine that will increase safety for volunteers, while providing exceptional conditions for recreational users on exemplary winter recreational trails in one of the snowiest regions in the US.

 

Western New York

 

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House ($106,000) to hire a Curatorial Associate who will play a critical role in helping to develop and implement a dynamic array of scholarly and public programs. The position will assist with the research, organization, and execution of these programs so as to broaden the audience and expand interpretation of the site as a place that ignites creativity and illuminates the power of architecture, history, and design.

 

Friends of Knox Farm State Park ($35,000) to host a family-centered solar eclipse viewing event complete with STEM programming, eclipse-specific activities, food and drink, entertainment, and more.

 

The Aquarium of Niagara ($35,000) towards a marketing and brand awareness campaign designed to promote and celebrate the planned opening of Great Lakes 360.

                                                                         

Boutwell Hill Ski Club, Inc. ($239,564) to provide environmentally-friendly and sustainable trail rehabilitation of the Homestead cross-country ski trail in Boutwell Hill State Forest, which will expand and diversify trail use to include year-long access to be inclusive for all hikers, runners, cyclists, equestrians, skiers, and people of all abilities, promoting equitable access to the outdoors.

 

Since its initial round in 2015, the Park and Trail Partnership Grant program has provided over $8 million to dozens of non-profit organizations across New York State. These grants, matched by over $2.7 million in private dollars, have provided much needed funding towards capacity building efforts for grassroots park and trail supporting organizations, as well as volunteer-led improvement projects in every corner of the Empire State. This public-private partnership ensures the continued viability of community groups and public lands for generations to come.

 

Parks & Trails New York is the leading statewide advocate for New York's parks and trails, working with grassroots groups for 35 years to strengthen public-private partnerships and improve New Yorker's health, economy, and quality of life through the use and enjoyment of green space. For more information, visit www.ptny.org.

 

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250 parks, historic sites, recreational trails, golf courses, boat launches and more, which saw a record 79.5 million visits in 2022. For more information on any of these recreation areas, visit parks.ny.gov, download the free NY State Parks Explorer mobile app or call 518.474.0456. Joins us in celebrating our Centennial throughout 2024, and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and the OPRHP Blog.