NYS, PTNY announce $450K in grants to state parks, forests

New York State (NYS) and Parks & Trails New York (PTNY) recently announced $450,000 in state grants to 21 organizations dedicated to the stewardship and promotion of New York State parks, historic sites, and public lands. 

These groups raise private funds for capital projects, perform maintenance efforts, provide educational programming, and promote public use by hosting special events, according to a news release from the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).

The Park and Trail Partnership Program grants, funded through the state’s Environmental Protection Fund, will be matched by almost $200,000 in private and local funding, which will support projects. The Park and Trail Partnership Program grants, according to the DEC release, are designed to:

• Enhance the preservation, stewardship, interpretation, maintenance, and promotion of New York State parks, trails, historic sites, and public lands;

• Increase the sustainability, effectiveness, productivity, volunteerism, and fundraising capabilities of nonprofit organizations that promote, maintain, and support New York State parks, trails, and state historic sites; and

• Promote the tourism and economic-development benefits of outdoor recreation through the growth and expansion of a connected statewide network of parks, trails, and greenways.

The grants are administered by the State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, and Parks & Trails New York, a statewide nonprofit group. This year for the first time, grant awardees include DEC Friends groups.

The organizations receiving grants in Central New York regions include:

Central Region

Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum: $20,400 to create a new education program entitled “The Story of the Water STEM Program: Erie Canal Connections.” The program will allow the museum to research water systems related to the Erie Canal and create STEM educational programming. Additional components of the new STEM program will be a summer STEM camp, and a “Story of the Water” series of talks. The new education program will enable visitors to explore how humans affect the canal water system today.

Council of Park Friends: $8,500 to make many “needed” updates to the Clark Reservation State Park Nature Center, specifically the geology exhibit, which explains the geologic formation comprising the main attraction at the park. Additional updates include the wildlife and flora exhibits, replacing the book collection, and purchasing new tables and display cases.

Mohawk Valley

Friends of Johnson Hall: $9,905 for of a historic floor cloth, a “painted carpet” for the front hallway of Johnson Hall State Historic Site in Johnstown. This reproduction floor cloth seeks to help protect the original wooden floor from heavy wear by visitors and will complete the restoration of the decorative finishes on the first floor of this site. Funds will also be used to produce a detailed color booklet, postcards and a website update to summarize all the restorations projects that have been competed or are underway.

North Country 

Azure Mountain Friends: $7,225 to initiate a publicity campaign and fund necessary repairs. The publicity campaign seeks to improve communications to the public about the work of the Azure Mountain Friends, the history of the tower, expand interest, ultimately increase the number of volunteers and supporters, and ensure the continuation of educational programs.

Friends of the Nature Center: $50,000 to create a new forest exhibit that will be located at the entrance of the Minna Anthony Common Nature Center. This exhibit will include interactive graphics that explain what each part of the tree does. This “modern, state of the art exhibit” seeks to draw the attention of new visitors, while also giving returning visitors a reason to return and explore the new elements.

Winona Forest Recreation Association: $19,082 for the rehabilitation of multi-use trails in the Winona State Forest, designed to increase public access and significantly enhancing users’ experience. This rehabilitation of the trails will attract new users, increase tourism dollars, and grow the local economy, the release stated.

Parks & Trails New York says it is an advocate for parks and trails, dedicated since 1985 to improving the health and quality of life of all New Yorkers by working with community organizations and municipalities to envision, create, promote, and protect a growing network of parks, greenways and trails throughout the state for all to use and enjoy.                           

New York State (NYS) and Parks & Trails New York (PTNY) recently announced $450,000 in state grants to 21 organizations dedicated to the stewardship and promotion of New York State parks, historic sites, and public lands. 

These groups raise private funds for capital projects, perform maintenance efforts, provide educational programming, and promote public use by hosting special events, according to a news release from the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).

The Park and Trail Partnership Program grants, funded through the state’s Environmental Protection Fund, will be matched by almost $200,000 in private and local funding, which will support projects. The Park and Trail Partnership Program grants, according to the DEC release, are designed to:

• Enhance the preservation, stewardship, interpretation, maintenance, and promotion of New York State parks, trails, historic sites, and public lands;

• Increase the sustainability, effectiveness, productivity, volunteerism, and fundraising capabilities of nonprofit organizations that promote, maintain, and support New York State parks, trails, and state historic sites; and

• Promote the tourism and economic-development benefits of outdoor recreation through the growth and expansion of a connected statewide network of parks, trails, and greenways.

The grants are administered by the State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, and Parks & Trails New York, a statewide nonprofit group. This year for the first time, grant awardees include DEC Friends groups.

The organizations receiving grants in Central New York regions include:

Central Region

Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum: $20,400 to create a new education program entitled “The Story of the Water STEM Program: Erie Canal Connections.” The program will allow the museum to research water systems related to the Erie Canal and create STEM educational programming. Additional components of the new STEM program will be a summer STEM camp, and a “Story of the Water” series of talks. The new education program will enable visitors to explore how humans affect the canal water system today.

Council of Park Friends: $8,500 to make many “needed” updates to the Clark Reservation State Park Nature Center, specifically the geology exhibit, which explains the geologic formation comprising the main attraction at the park. Additional updates include the wildlife and flora exhibits, replacing the book collection, and purchasing new tables and display cases.

Mohawk Valley

Friends of Johnson Hall: $9,905 for of a historic floor cloth, a “painted carpet” for the front hallway of Johnson Hall State Historic Site in Johnstown. This reproduction floor cloth seeks to help protect the original wooden floor from heavy wear by visitors and will complete the restoration of the decorative finishes on the first floor of this site. Funds will also be used to produce a detailed color booklet, postcards and a website update to summarize all the restorations projects that have been competed or are underway.

North Country 

Azure Mountain Friends: $7,225 to initiate a publicity campaign and fund necessary repairs. The publicity campaign seeks to improve communications to the public about the work of the Azure Mountain Friends, the history of the tower, expand interest, ultimately increase the number of volunteers and supporters, and ensure the continuation of educational programs.

Friends of the Nature Center: $50,000 to create a new forest exhibit that will be located at the entrance of the Minna Anthony Common Nature Center. This exhibit will include interactive graphics that explain what each part of the tree does. This “modern, state of the art exhibit” seeks to draw the attention of new visitors, while also giving returning visitors a reason to return and explore the new elements.

Winona Forest Recreation Association: $19,082 for the rehabilitation of multi-use trails in the Winona State Forest, designed to increase public access and significantly enhancing users’ experience. This rehabilitation of the trails will attract new users, increase tourism dollars, and grow the local economy, the release stated.

Parks & Trails New York says it is an advocate for parks and trails, dedicated since 1985 to improving the health and quality of life of all New Yorkers by working with community organizations and municipalities to envision, create, promote, and protect a growing network of parks, greenways and trails throughout the state for all to use and enjoy.