Park and Trail Partnership Program grants awarded

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Parks & Trails New York (PTNY) and the NYS Office of Parks, Preservation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP), with support from Governor Hochul and the NYS Legislature, are pleased to announce the latest round of NYS Park and Trail Partnership Program grant awardees. This program is open to Friends organizations that support New York State parks, trails and state historic sites and is administered by PTNY, in partnership with OPRHP.

The grants support partner group efforts to raise private funds for capital projects, engage in maintenance and beautification projects, and provide educational programming and special events (with a focus this round on the 2024 NYS Parks Centennial celebration) that promote public use of the parks.

2023-2024 Round 9 Awardees

Adirondack Region

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.

Allegany Region

Boutwell Hill Ski Club, Inc. ($239,564) to provide environmentally friendly, 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.

Central Region

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

Friends of Rogers ($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.

Finger Lakes 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.

Genesee Region

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.

Long Island Region

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 Region

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.

Niagara Region

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.

Palisades Region

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.

Saratoga/Capital District 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.

Taconic Region

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 .

Friends of Clermont ($54,000) to Friends of Clermont will 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, overhaul web and social media design, and devise a multi-year plan to raise funds for the completion of the trail.

Little Stony Point Citizens Association, Inc. ($30,593) to create safer public access to the park 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.

Thousand Islands Region

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.

2022-2023 Round 8 Awardees


CAPITAL REGION

Friends of Johnson Hall ($27,585) to develop an app that will enhance the traditional physical tour through the historic house allowing visitors of varied ability and culture to engage in existing interpretation.

Friends of U.S. Grant Cottage ($36,000) for the design and engineering of a trail that will provide an accessible pedestrian route to the Eastern Overlook for visitors with physical limitations.

Lake George Battlefield Park (Fort George) Alliance ($50,000) for the hiring of a Member Services Manager to promote awareness of the park through marketing, fundraising, and operation of the new visitor center.

CENTRAL NEW YORK

Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum ($146,250) to repair the exterior and interior of the 1990 reproduction Erie Canal-era store to provide year-round use of the newly ADA-compliant programming areas.

Friends of Fillmore Glen State Park ($4,000) to hire a consulting firm to evaluate and design replacement options for the heavily used, original to the site, stone staircase that provides essential direct access to locations within the park.

FINGER LAKES

Friends of Hamlin Beach State Park ($29,118) to enhance inclusive recreational access at the Area 3 beach by installing Mobi Mats and providing floating beach chairs.

Friends of Letchworth State Park ($8,000) for plans to upgrade access to three picnic shelters and one comfort station in the park to better serve park visitors with physical limitations.

LONG ISLAND

Planting Fields Foundation ($108,129) to renovate and install ADA-accessible pathways that will increase accessibility, pedestrian safety, and lead guests to notable sites within the park.

Caumsett Foundation, Inc. ($55,500) for a feasibility study that will restore two paths with safety issues, improve native ecological communities, and establish an educational viewing site.

Friends of Jones Beach ($10,025) to establish organizational capacity-building initiatives for this newly re-established state park friends group.

Atlantic Marine Conservation Society ($26,145) for a "Lunch and Learn" series to train New York State Parks staff, lifeguards, and educators on proper procedures for handling marine life washed ashore.

MID-HUDSON

Calvert Vaux Preservation Alliance ($150,000) to repair, re-deck, and install safety barriers for the 1912 Warren truss bridge--a gateway to Mills-Norrie State Park and the Hudson River.

Friends of Philipse Manor Hall ($48,100) for a marketing/membership campaign and the development of targeted programming to promote visitation to the renovated and updated historic site.

Friends of Rockland Lake and Hook Mountain ($100,000) to add two new educational programs that will extend outreach to young people from groups currently underrepresented in these parks.

Jay Heritage Center ($150,000) for the construction of ADA pathways in the historic Jay Gardens allowing a greater number of visitors and partners to enjoy the award-winning gardens and social justice programs.

Mamakating Environmental Education Center/Friends of MEEC ($51,300) to create more programming at the Bashakill Wildlife Management Area that will help form alliances with other groups and increase outreach to wider audiences.

Palisades Parks Conservancy ($150,000) to hire a Program Manager who will develop greater community connection and activation, improve marketing and branding, and implement DEIA initiatives in Palisades region state parks.

Stony Kill Foundation Inc. ($150,000) to undertake an essential renovation of the barnyard and agricultural learning area which is a center for public programming and youth education at Stony Kill Farm.

NEW YORK CITY

Friends of Gantry Plaza State Park ($25,011) for tables and umbrellas that will provide additional seating and shaded comfort to address the park's significant increased visitation.

NORTH COUNTRY

Friends of Higley Flow State Park ($45,966) to purchase an ADA accessible kayak launch and gangway approach to be installed in collaboration by volunteers and park staff.

Morgan Duke Conservation Society ($5,789) to organize continuing community clean-up events at the Hudson River Special Management Area and to encourage citizens and college students to become long-term volunteers.

John Brown Lives! ($150,000) for its first Executive Director position that will help professionalize and stabilize the organization and its continuing impact on behalf of John Brown Farm State Historic Site.

WESTERN NEW YORK

Artpark & Company, Inc. ($100,000) to hire a Director of Education, Interpretation, and Accessibility who will organize year-round educational and outreach activities, establish new programming, and partner with NYS Parks on environmental education and outreach.

Chautauqua County Equestrian Trail System ($68,000) to develop a multi-year strategic plan focusing on marketing, fundraising, and volunteer support to broaden the diversity of trail users and expand and strengthen partnerships.

Friends of Knox Farm State Park ($75,000) to renovate the Mansion Summer Estate--a unique wedding and events venue managed by The Friends.

Friends of Reinstein Nature Preserve ($10,581) to build an enclosure that will protect and establish the native forest as well as to improve public access and education related to forest ecosystems.

IMPACT: Friends Improving Allegany County Trails ($7,396) to replace a 30-foot bridge to be built in partnership with Alfred State College and the DEC, and to install two trail counters for data collection on nearby trails.

Old Fort Niagara Association ($12,103) to create a rest stop for cyclists on the Niagara Greenway bike trail in Old Fort Niagara State Park.

2021-2022 Round 7 Awardees


2021-2022 Round 7 Awardees

Adirondacks

  • Adirondack Mountain Club ($14,750) for sustainable trail rehabilitation on the Phelps Trail, one of the eastern approaches for Mt. Marcy, New York’s tallest mountain.
  • Azure Mountain Friends ($3,600) for repairs on the fire tower landing and for outreach to local public schools.
  • John Brown Lives! ($26,500) to build capacity through an innovative strategic planning process that will ensure the effectiveness and sustainability of the friends group of the John Brown Farm State Historic Site.
  • Lake George Battlefield Park Alliance ($7,500) to hire an experienced contractor to develop activities at the park’s new Visitor Interpretive Center.

  • Allegany

  • Friends of Allegany State Park ($23,400) to renovate the historic Red House Sawmill.
  • Friends of the Genesee Valley Greenway ($60,000) to provide professional, community-level coordination and technical assistance support to the Genesee Valley Trail Town Initiative focused on consistent trail-wide marketing, business attraction and growth, and advocacy and fundraising to complete critical trail-to-town connectivity.
  • IMPACT: Friends Improving Allegany County Trails ($10,000) to produce a consultant-facilitated three- to five-year road map plan on how to grow and sustain the organization.

  • Central New York

  • Friends of Mexico Point Park ($30,592) to create a handicap accessible trail from the parking lot to the pavilion, restrooms, and lakeshore, including a kiosk and educational signage along the path.
  • Friends of Rogers ($80,000) to create an environmental educator position who will develop, lead, and organize educational programming for students, youth, families, and special interest groups with an emphasis on adults and seniors.

  • Finger Lakes

  • Friends of Robert H. Treman State Park ($36,140) to replace the roof on the historic Old Mill.
  • Rochester Inclusive Community Rowing ($11,592) to install an ADA compliant pathway with environmentally friendly materials that will allow access from the boathouse and DEC lands to the rowing dock.
  • Sonnenberg Gardens and Mansion State Historic Park ($12,568) to digitize their archives and collection.

  • Genesee

  • Friends of Letchworth State Park ($10,750) to restore and preserve the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps stone tables in the Upper Falls area.

  • Long Island

  • Friends of Connetquot ($41,000) to design and install an interpretive exhibit in the observation deck of the hatchery building to view trout propagation, care and feeding, and learn about the work involved in stream restoration.
  • Long Island Greenbelt Trail Conference ($25,670) to increase the capacity of the organization by updating their administrative and technology infrastructure.

  • New York City

  • Friends of Gantry Plaza State Park ($15,500) for the remediation of several landscape issues in Gantry Plaza State Park caused by high park usage.

  • Niagara

  • Niagara Post Theater ($30,379) towards the renovation of the historic theater’s ceiling.
  • Old Fort Niagara Association ($75,000) to preserve two iconic historic 18th century redoubt structures.

  • Palisades

  • Friends of Rockland Lake and Hook Mountain ($68,000) to create a pilot mentor program for high school students and to fund an effort to bring additional 4th grade students to the parks for hands-on science and history learning, as well as to conduct a longitudinal study of past program participants to assess longer-term impact.

  • Saratoga/Capital Region

  • Columbia Friends of the Electric Trail ($8,600) for the installation of eight park benches along the Columbia County portion of the Albany-Hudson Electric Trail.
  • Friends of Moreau Lake State Park ($48,928) to install an accessible trail with a new trailhead that will include a kiosk and interpretive signs.
  • Upper Hudson Northern Catskill Natural Resource Trust dba Greene Land Trust ($8,800) to develop engineering plans and specifications to replace an undersized culvert for a tributary that enters the Hudson River.

  • Taconic

  • Bannerman Castle Trust ($100,000) to hire a Development Officer to evaluate, refine, and implement the organization’s development activities and to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major gift donors and prospects.
  • Friends of Mills Mansion ($32,000) for the purchase of historically-accurate materials to create reproduction draperies for the library at Staatsburgh State Historic Site.
  • Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct ($26,427) to improve the exterior of the Keeper’s House Visitor Center and the usability and attractiveness of the building’s ADA compliant entrance as well as to install an arch and mechanical device from the Croton Dam to help visitors better understand the functioning of the Aqueduct.
  • Little Stony Point Citizens Association ($16,200) to hire a Community Outreach Coordinator to reach out to the community, members, donors, and volunteers and to create deeper engagement via events, newsletters, and appeals.
  • Stony Kill Foundation ($76,104) to hire a Volunteer and Outreach Manager who will improve the capacity to conduct community outreach and engage volunteers in stewardship of Stony Kill Farm and its associated trails.

  • 2020-2021 Round 6 Awardees

    Adirondack

    Adirondack Architectural Heritage

    $30,000 to complete a five-year rehabilitation of Poke-O-Moonshine's 1.8-mile Ranger Trail as a model of an interesting, varied, and sustainable interpretive trail to the top of the mountain.

    Adirondack Mountain Club

    $14,139 to hire one staff member for a Summer Stewardship Program to be stationed on top of New York's tallest mountains from May to October to educate the public on alpine ecosystems and enlist their help in protecting this fragile resource.

    Lake George Battlefield Park (Fort George) Alliance

    $2,040 to develop, print and distribute an updated Battlefield Park Tour Guide and rack card to build awareness of the new Lake George Battlefield Park Visitor Interpretive Center.

    Allegany

    Chautauqua County Equestrian Trail System

    $64,805 to provide environmentally friendly, sustainable rehabilitation of the trail known as The Boulevard, which acts as a critical point of access for trail users and has been closed for the past two years due to logging.

    Capital Region

    Friends of Fort Crailo

    $6,500 to harness the capacity to draw broader awareness to the Friends of Fort Crailo and Crailo State Historic Site by strengthening the board makeup, developing a strong membership plan, and creating a website.

    Friends of Grafton Lakes State Park

    $9,506 to build capacity through membership, volunteer, and donor development, and to fund a series of activities (hiking, mountain biking, summer film series, fundraising event), promotional materials, and other supporting initiatives.

    Friends of Saratoga Spa State Park

    $75,000 To restore the Coesa spring house, provide interpretive signage about the Coesa Mineral Spring, and to install a historically accurate replica of the original granite fountain.

    Friends of Bennington Battlefield

    $6,750 to add professionally produced audio files via QR code to recently installed interpretive panels providing diverse accounts of the Battle.

    Central New York

    Friends of Lorenzo

    $43,020 to arrange collections of maps, photos, land records, letters, and other historical documents into usable electronic collections to facilitate intellectual control and use.

    Hyde Hall, Inc.

    $2,830 to design, fabricate, and install four interpretive and educational panels that introduce visitors to Hyde Hall’s history and offer a general welcome and orientation to the site.

    Friends of Clark Reservation

    $5,400 to develop a strategic plan.

    Finger Lakes

    Friends of Fillmore Glen State Park

    $13,296 to create kiosks in the park with maps, information, and educational interpretive signs and to upgrade event signage.

    Friends of The Catherine Valley Trail

    $13,500 to remedy trail erosion by installing culverts, resurfacing, and installing two interpretive kiosks at strategic locations.

    Sonnenberg Gardens and Mansion State Historic Park

    $16,200 to fund a campaign and marketing plan to assist in public relations and fundraising.

    Genesee

    Friends of Letchworth State Park

    $50,700 to restore and preserve 18 iconic Civilian Conservation Corps-built stone tables at the Wolf Creek and Eddys picnic areas.

    Long Island

    Atlantic Marine Conservation Society

    $23,084 to install enhanced education signage at Hallock State Park Preserve and Orient Beach State Park and a new exhibit in Hallock State Park Preserve’s Community Room to highlight the important ecosystems and marine life at both parks.

    Bayard Cutting Arboretum Horticultural Society

    $50,000 to hire an Education Coordinator to organize, increase, and enhance educational programs to better serve the arboretum and community.

    Walt Whitman Birthplace Association

    $33,888 to promote Whitman’s legacy through expanded website capabilities and marketing strategies which will bring attention, admiration, interactions, and support to the grounds of Whitman’s birth.

    Niagara

    Artpark & Company, Inc.

    $50,000 to create a comprehensive wayfinding system and incorporate public Wi-Fi along Artpark's pathways providing data access to a diverse demographic of Artpark visitors, and to serve as a functional necessity for the proposed interactive signage system and data collection.

    Friends of Reinstein Nature Preserve

    $6,510 to provide permanent, durable trailside interpretive signs along the “History Trail,” including new accessibility features and an audio tour.

    Martin House Restoration Corporation

    $13,500 to retain a Curatorial Intern who will support the second phase of a comprehensive collections cataloging project that will strengthen the stewardship of the collections and make them more accessible.

    New York City

    Four Freedoms Park Conservancy

    $35,000 to fund programming in FDR Four Freedoms State Park; plan, develop and execute a range of on-site tours given by area experts; and develop and execute self-guided mobile tours in multiple languages.

    Palisades

    Fort Montgomery Battle Site Association

    $33,300 to repair and make safe the trail in the western portion of Fort Montgomery State Historic Site--part two of a two-phase project.

    Taconic

    Calvert Vaux Preservation Alliance

    $36,000 to contract the services of a Communications and Development Specialist who will establish critical communications and development infrastructure to engage professional staff, expand public and private constituencies, and fundraise for capital projects and public programs.

    Friends of Rockefeller State Park Preserve, Inc.

    $60,000 to rehabilitate the historic Overlook Trail carriage road in the Swan Lake section of Rockefeller State Park Preserve.

    Harlem Valley Rail Trail Association

    $75,000 to repair and repave one of the oldest sections of the Harlem Valley Rail Trail which is part Taconic State Park.

    Little Stony Point Citizens Association, Inc.

    $13,500 to increase access, stewardship, and environmental education opportunities by making the trail to the Little Stony Point overlook more accessible.

    Walkway Over the Hudson

    $64,996 to fund a position to oversee its successful Summer Walkway Ambassador Program a youth employment program), and to assist with on-bridge operations, events, and management of the new East Gate Plaza.

    Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct

    $24,875 to expand successful outreach and community engagement in underserved and diverse communities by retaining a part-time outreach coordinator to increase awareness about the Aqueduct and enhance the capacity of the Friends.

    Thousand Islands

    Winona Forest Recreation Association

    $26,837 to double the traditional event trail course by adding five new bridges, three new trails, and performing trail rehabilitation, including the addition of a new 5K trail which can be used by hikers, mountain bikers, and trail runners.

    2019-2020 Round 5 Awardees

    Capital Region

    Columbia Friends of the Electric Trail

    $10,000 to support improvements to communication and website, printing and mailing costs, and membership coordination to promote the Albany-Hudson Electric Trail.

    Friends of Moreau Lake State Park

    $13,500 to fund a consultant to create promotional materials designed to promote membership in the group.

    Friends of Saratoga Spa State Park

    $12,000 to fund a consultant, membership management software and promotional materials, digital marketing and Chamber of Commerce membership.

    Friends of Schuyler Mansion

    $28,256 To purchase historic floor cloth covering for the mansion's second-floor ballroom, and for photographs of current Brussels carpeting.

    Lake George Battlefield Park (Fort George) Alliance

    $3,528 to purchase new signage in the park.

    The Friends of U.S. Grant Cottage

    $48,000 to fund an assessment of current conditions and master plan for potential future improvements including off-site parking, accessible pedestrian pathways, connection to the Palmertown Trail network, a memorial garden and new pavilion.

    The Olana Partnership

    $14,400 to support planning for a new trailhead from the Hudson River Skywalk to Olana State Historic Site with a new gate, signage, benches and bike racks.

    Central Region

    Friends of Fillmore Glen State Park

    $16,500 to support equipment and expenses for the group's annual fundraising effort, Fillmore Days.

    Winona Forest Recreation Association

    $33,386 to improve three miles of trails and purchase cross-country skiing equipment.

    Finger Lakes Region

    Finger Lakes Trail Conference

    $50,000 to hire a communications consultant to promote membership and marketing to increase tourism on the 1,000-mile trail network.

    Sonnenberg Gardens and Mansion State Historic Park

    $25,000 to support the collection, transport and storage of the site's collection of historic furniture, textiles, china and other materials in a new facility.

    Rochester Inclusive Community Rowing

    $23,934 for purchase of a new accessible dock.

    Long Island

    Atlantic Marine Conservation Society

    $95,822 to hire an Education Coordinator to work with nearby Hallock State Park Preserve.

    Planting Fields Foundation

    $70,000 to hire an architect for an historic preservation and adaptive reuse of vacant structure at Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park.

    Walt Whitman Birthplace Association

    $21,120 for installation of an outdoor video display for increased visibility and marketing.

    Mid-Hudson

    Bannerman Castle Trust

    $63,000 to replace broken sidewalks around the residence and the North Trail.

    Friends of Fahnestock and Hudson Highlands State Parks

    $7,286 to build a overnight trail shelter along the Appalachian Trail within the parks.

    Friends of Rockland Lake and Hook Mountain

    $45,000 to connect public schools with Hook Mountain, Rockland Lake, Nyack Beach State Park, Haverstraw Beach State Park and the Hudson River by expanding the "Learning in the Park" program.

    New York-New Jersey Trail Conference

    $32,400 to provide trail stewards at Minnewaska State Park Preserve.

    Stony Kill Foundation Inc.

    $90,000 to hire a new executive director to enhance programming, operations and fundraising.

    The Little Stony Point Citizens Association Inc.

    $6650 for media equipment and new ceiling fans at the new Volunteer Center.

    North Country

    John Brown Lives

    $11,650 to support expanded programming at the John Brown's Farm State Historic Site.

    Upper Saranac Foundation

    $19,000 to support the Fish Creek Aquatic Invasive Species Spread Prevention and Containment Project.

    New York City

    Friends of Gantry Plaza State Park

    $21,600 to replace tree guards in the park and to support enhanced volunteer outreach.

    Southern Tier

    Friends of Rogers Environmental Education Center

    $36,000 to improve the exhibits at the center.

    Western

    Friends of Allegany State Park

    $10,399 to install interpretive kiosks, add a video screen, and repair damage to the Red House Sawmill.

    Friends of Knox Farm State Park

    $75,000 to repair seven historic barns at the site.

    Martin House Restoration Corporation

    $10,000 to support a curatorial intern to preserve and display the collections of the Darwin D. Martin House State Historic Site.

    2018-2019 Round 4 Awardees

    Adirondack Region – total awarded: $13,500

    Azure Mountain Friends

    $13,500 to stabilize erosion on the summit between the fire tower and the open cliffs to the southeast to make the trail safer for hikers, reduce the damage to summit vegetation and reestablish a more natural summit environment.


    Allegany Region – total awarded: $10,625

    Friends of Allegany State Park

    $10,625 to begin the restoration of the Red House Sawmill, a historic building that was used to produce lumber for cabins and other structures within the park. The first phase includes securing, stabilizing and sanitizing the structure.


    Central Region – total awarded: $56,883

    Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum

    $23,800 to create capital improvement and marketing plans for an outdoor recreation and community welcome area at the juncture of the Old Erie Canal trail and the Village of Chittenango Creekwalk, reimagining an underutilized section of the site.

    Council of Park Friends

    $5,083 to officially change its corporate name to the Friends of Clark Reservation and to embark on a membership campaign using promotional materials to grow membership and help maintain a sustainable income.

    Friends of Chenango Valley State Park

    $18,000 to complete the fencing of a youth league ball field which will serve local youth and their families.

    Friends of Rogers

    $10,000 to hire a branding consultant to establish a clear and easily recognizable brand and image to grow the Rogers Environmental Education Center and continue to offer free access to over 6 miles of trails across 600 acres.


    Finger Lakes Region – total awarded: $22,630

    Friends of Ganondagon

    $22,630 to hire a Program Assistant to support increased year-round innovative programming at Ganondagan State Historic Site.

    Genesee Region – total awarded: $13,888

    Friends of Letchworth State Park

    $13,888 to support a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Legacy Pathway project in Letchworth State Park with interpretive, directional and structure identification signage.

    Long Island Region – total awarded: $34,557

    The Caumsett Foundation

    $34,557 to fund the rehabilitation of the visitor kiosk at Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve to enhance the visitor experience, focusing on site interpretation, wayfinding and programming.

    New York City Region – total awarded $17,000

    Friends of Gantry State Park

    $17,000 to replace the parks’ hammocks, which are a popular feature, and to increase outreach in the neighborhood and volunteer capacity.

    Niagara Region – total awarded: $40,000

    Friends of Knox Farm

    $40,000 to hire a part time Executive Director to help the volunteer organization better accomplish its mission and support the park.

    Palisades Region – total awarded: $50,000

    Fort Montgomery Battle Site Association

    $50,000 to repair and restore Fort Montgomery State Historic Site’s trail system, which provides access to the site’s 35,000 annual visitors, including school groups, families, organizations, and individuals.

    Saratoga/Capital Region – total awarded: $83,595

    Friends of Bennington Battlefield

    $8,500 to design, create and place interpretative signs that will incorporate firsthand accounts of the battle and draw from multiple perspectives.

    Friends of Five Rivers

    $31,500 to hire an Outreach and Development Coordinator to cultivate a sustainable base of donors and expand the organization's funding and volunteer resources.

    Friends of Johnson Hall

    $7,245 to complete the restoration of an 18th century wallpaper in the central hall of Sir William Johnson's 1763 home which emphasized the ancient power and authority of the English king that Johnson represented.

    Friends of Moreau Lake State Park

    $5,150 to purchase supplies and materials to build eight boat storage racks and a kayak launch that will help alleviate tree damage.

    John Brown Lives!

    $31,200 to enhance and augment the visitor experience, including a children's corner, special themed tours, an audio installation for the Dreaming of Timbuctoo Exhibit, Friends Group kiosk, and special community-building events.

    Taconic Region – total awarded: $75,889

    Calvert Vaux Preservation Alliance

    $28,000 to retain an historic preservation architecture firm to outline next steps for restoration and sustainable adaptive reuse of The Point located at Mills Norrie State Park in Staatsburg, N.Y.

    Friends of Fahnestock and Hudson Highlands State Parks

    $21,500 to add historical signage around Northgate/ Cornish Estate Ruins as well as give visitors of the Hudson Highlands a space to relax and learn about the park's history.

    The Little Stony Point Citizens Association, Inc.

    $11,889 to purchase an energy efficient heat pump for the new Volunteer Center to enable more seasonal activities which will increase volunteer presence at Little Stony Point. New database and calendar software will enhance volunteer engagement and administration.

    Walkway over the Hudson

    $14,500 to fund multi-faceted, year-long fundraising and marketing campaign that takes advantage of the Walkway's status as a critical connector of the Empire State Rail Trail.

    Thousand Islands Region – total awarded: $36,182

    Winona Forest Recreation Association

    $36,182 for the rehabilitation of an additional 5 miles of trail, enhancement of trailhead signage, and construction of a new picnic pavilion. Purchase of a snow machine with grooming implements will open up winter use of the trail.

    2017-2018 Round 3 Awardees

    Capital Region - total awarded: $27,580

    Friends of Clermont

    $4,000 to create a planned giving program to raise funds to provide more programs, including marketing materials, a planned giving and named endowment policy, and training for the board of trustees.

    Friends of Thacher Park

    $4,080 to design and procure promotional materials to promote the Friends group and build capacity through outreach.

    The Friends of U.S. Grant Cottage

    $19,500 to provide critical administrative support and focus on acquiring and maintaining sustainable income sources for the organization.


    Central Region - total awarded: $28,900

    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 impact 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.


    Finger Lakes - total awarded: $96,958

    Friends of Ganondagan

    $50,000 to fund the restoration and replacement of the Seneca Bark Longhouse roof using new, “flexbark/Elm Bark” roofing panels. The exiting roof is leaking and the new roof is necessary and critical to ensure the viability of the Seneca Bark Longhouse structure, and safety of the artifacts, reproductions, and interpretive materials housed within.

    Friends of Hamlin Beach State Park

    $15,740 to enhance the self-guided interpretive tour to educate visitors about the role Hamlin Beach State Park CCC/POW Camp played during the Depression and World War II. The enhancements will include a stone dust path to follow the interpretive sign tour, five new interpretive signs, and new locator signs within the park directing patrons to the CCC/POW site.

    Friends of Letchworth State Park

    $12,530 to fund a planning document along with two architectural project reports that will allow the Friends group to more effectively manage and fund projects that will move forward the ongoing effort to preserve the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) legacy in Letchworth State Park.

    Sonnenberg Gardens and Mansion State Historic Park

    $18,688 for the restoration of the Vinery Greenhouse. The scope of the restoration project includes repairs to masonry, skeletal framework, sashes, roof, glass and gutters.


    Long Island - total awarded: $20,000

    The Caumsett Foundation, Inc.

    $20,000 to fund the construction of a courtyard between two classrooms to enhance the education complex at Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve. It will provide additional public space if the classrooms are occupied for lectures, break-out sessions and lunch breaks. It will be the primary space for other groups to meet and will complement the overall design between the classrooms, restrooms and Park offices, all of which are new spaces.


    Mid-Hudson - total awarded: $122,938

    Basha Kill Area Association

    $7,792 will fund professional reformatting and printing of 500 copies of a revised book (the third edition) entitled “A Birding Guide to Sullivan County New York.” This project will generate more interest in this valuable, state-owned natural resource by specifically educating visitors about the 250+ bird species who inhabit this wetland during the year.

    Friends of Mills Mansion

    $48,000 to fund the purchase of historically-accurate, custom-made fabric, trim, and as well as decorative trim, tie-backs and hanging hardware needed to reproduce the historic draperies in Staatsburgh's formal dining room. These will replace the existing drapes that have been hanging for over 100 years and are in very poor condition.

    Friends of The Old Croton Aqueduct

    $27,200 to cover the cost of a coordinator to support the needs of the recently opened Keeper’s House Education and Visitor Center. The coordinator will develop and manage the volunteer docent program, including recruiting new volunteers to assist with all the activities at the Center and improve the visitor’s experience.

    The Little Stony Point Citizens Association, Inc.

    $39,946 to fund a solar installation on the Volunteer Center to power activities there, which will increase volunteer presence at Little Stony Point. A portion of the energy generated will be stored in a mobile battery, which will be used to support volunteer activities throughout the Park. Additionally, installing a simple "green" incinerating toilet at the Center will provide better amenities for visitors.


    Mohawk Valley - total awarded: $9,905

    Friends of Johnson Hall

    $9,905 for a historic floor cloth, a “painted carpet” for the Front Hallway of Johnson Hall State Historic Site. This reproduction floor cloth will 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.


    New York City - total awarded: $15,750

    Four Freedoms Park Conservancy

    $15,750 to redesign and install clear, direct, and inviting entrance signage that incorporates messaging of the Park’s rules in the park, which are unique due to the park’s entirely engineered environment.


    North Country - total awarded: $76,703

    Azure Mountain Friends

    $7,225 to initiate a publicity campaign and fund necessary repairs. The publicity campaign will improve communications to the public about the work of the Azure Mountain Friends, the history of the tower, expand interest, and ultimately increase the number of volunteers and supporters. Most importantly, the increased exposure and publicity will help to insure 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 will 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 specifically 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.


    Western New York - total awarded: $51,611

    Friends of Allegany State Park

    $4,250 for the construction of approximately two miles of new, narrow tread trail, as part of the park’s master plan. Funds will cover the materials for the trail, new signage, and informational kiosks and maps. The trail will be created in collaboration with a mountain biking group to attract bikers, a new user group, to the park.

    Friends of Reinstein Nature Preserve

    $47,411 to hire a Development Manager to cultivate a sustainable donor base and expand the organization’s funding sources in the areas of corporate giving, foundation giving, and planned giving. These actions will increase the long-term viability of Friends of Reinstein Woods, and foster improvements to the educational and stewardship programs supported by Reinstein Woods.

    2016-2017 Round 2 Awardees

    Central New York – total awarded: $34,231

    $5,798 to hire an Education/Visitor Experience Intern to study, document, research and host tours, produce a general Chittenango Landing tour, and create materials and videos for PR and museum education.

    ​Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum

    Friends of Chenango Valley State Park

    $11,020 to purchase 14 pairs of kids’snowshoes for winter activity programs and build a new backstop and fencing for a Field of Dreams.

    Friends of Fort Ontario, Inc

    $1,986 to create an indoor and outdoor Membership and Volunteer Recruitment Events booth.

    Friends of Lorenzo

    $15,427 to develop an institutional plan that will effectively and strategically support the organizational mission over the next 3-5 years.


    Finger Lakes – total awarded: $37,364

    Friends of Ganondagan

    $19,239 to hire a program assistant to develop interpretive programming and events that feature Iroquois White Corn from an agricultural, traditional and food perspective.

    Friends of Greater Two Rivers State Park

    $7,500 to assist with the administrative and legal fees needed to secure 501(c)(3) status, along with the costs associated with completing a consultant-facilitated organizational assessment and resulting plan.

    Friends of Robert H. Treman State Park

    $10,625 to restore and paint the exterior of the Old Mill, including the removal of paint, patching and light carpentry repair, priming and painting, and restoring wooden windows.


    Genesee – total awarded: $41,310

    Friends of the Genesee Valley Greenway, Inc

    $41,310 to develop a new responsive website including an interactive Genesee Valley Greenway map with social media integration, and rack cards to help promote the Greenway and new website.


    Long Island – total awarded: $67,535

    Friends of Connetquot, Inc.

    $17,535 to develop new educational programs for the Mill Museum, videos, and brochures to complement the completion of the Nicoll Grist Mill restoration.

    The Caumsett Foundation, Inc.

    $25,000 to adapt the former carpenter's shop for use as two environmental/education classrooms.

    Walt Whitman Birthplace Association

    $25,000 to modernize exhibit space by adding Walt Whitman themes, including Whitman’s formative years, gender equality, and Paumanok ecology, plus emphasize Whitman as the Poet of Democracy and add newly acquired artifacts.


    New York City – total awarded: $20,000

    Friends of Gantry Plaza State Park

    $20,000 to refresh the signage system throughout Gantry Plaza State Park in accordance with the agency's updated signage guidelines and to give the park's 20 year old signage a fresh and unified look.


    Niagara – total awarded: $25,000

    Friends of Knox Farm State Park

    $25,000 to replace the original slate roof of the 100 year old historic Main House at Knox Farm State Park, which is now used as an event center for weddings, public events and fundraising activities.


    Saratoga/Capital – total awarded: $78,000

    Friends of Schuyler Mansion

    $30,000 for two reproduction Brussels carpets to be woven for two very significant rooms within Schuyler Mansion -- the Best parlor, in which Alexander Hamilton and Elizabeth Schuyler were married, and the Dining Room, at which table dignitaries such as Benjamin Franklin, John Jay and George Washington were entertained.

    John Brown Lives!

    $48,000 to hire the organization’s first paid employee for a part-time position whose duties will encompass a range of administrative and clerical functions aimed at shoring up the foundation of the organization and helping cultivate sustainable, widespread and dedicated public and private support for John Brown Farm State Historic Site.


    Taconic – total awarded: $107,085

    Friends of Philipse Manor Hall

    $14,875 to purchase audio-visual equipment and hire consultants for an oral history project at Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site. The collected interviews will expand the oral histories on view as part of the current Immigration Exhibit as well as supplement future exhibits and programs with first-person narratives to promote the understanding of history in a human context.

    Harlem Valley Rail Trail Association, Inc.

    $29,710 to hire a part-time staff member to increase organization's capacity to reach out and increase membership and volunteer base in Columbia County.

    The Little Stony Point Citizens Association, Inc.

    $50,000 to replace an existing storage shed and create new space to support volunteer activities at Little Stony Point State Park. The accessory structure will provide space for meetings, event planning and support, equipment, materials, and volunteer amenities plus a covered porch for hikers.

    Walkway Over the Hudson

    $12,500 to revise and improve organization’s successful Walkway LOOP map produced in 2009 to account for new important trail connections and features, and to place a spotlight on the exciting new multi-modal trails that are proposed for the Mid-Hudson Valley Region.


    Thousand Islands – total awarded: $39,475

    Friends of the Nature Center

    $39,475 to build two new state of the art exhibits that will be located at the entrance of the Minna Anthony Common Nature Center. One exhibit will be dedicated to Minna Anthony Common’s contribution to the nature center and the second exhibit will be an interactive trail map that details the 13 trails located at the Nature Center.

    2015-2016 Round 1 Awardees

    Capital Region – total awarded: $33,389

    Friends of Grafton Lakes State Park

    $5,609 to install a series of kiosks along the route to the newly rehabilitated Dickinson Hill Fire Tower Historic Site, providing historical and cultural information on the area to the general public

    Friends of Schodack Island State Park

    $3,400 to install two kiosks, one in each loop of the new park campground, and promotional materials to provide information to campers about the Friends group, the park, and the surrounding community

    The Olana Partnership

    $24,380 to develop interpretive materials that will support new guided tours of the landscape at Olana State Historic Site as part of the 50th anniversary of Olana being saved from destruction.


    Central New York – total awarded: $54,230

    Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum

    $45,625 to upgrade the position of Executive Director from part-time to full-time to better serve the educational needs of the area and boost tourism

    Friends of Fort Ontario

    $8,605 to provide wireless internet access at Fort Ontario State Historic Site for the Friends and the public and to create a secure website and an online museum shop


    Finger Lakes – total awarded: $110,869

    Sonnenberg Gardens and Mansion State Historic Park

    $75,000 to hire a full-time Manager of Corporate Fundraising and Major Gifts who will develop and execute a five-year capital improvement plan

    Friends of Hamlin Beach State Park:

    $14,889 to install interpretive signs for a self-guided walking tour of the former Civilian Conservation Corps/Prisoner of War site on park grounds, and signs attributing the Friends for its work protecting the historic CCC/POW camp and in the care of bluebird and purple martin houses within the park

    Friends of Letchworth State Park

    $20,980 for materials and training that will enable increased volunteer recruitment and engagement to better steward the park and its trails.


    Long Island – total awarded: $27,000

    The Caumsett Foundation, Inc.

    $27,000 to develop and implement a plan for programming in the Hay Barn and adjacent buildings that will generate revenue the Friends can use to maintain these historical buildings


    Mid-Hudson Region – total awarded: $103,725

    Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct

    $47,475 to design and equip a Visitor and Education Center (the site’s first) within the Keeper’s House, a National Historic Landmark that had previously been empty and unused

    Friends of the Rockefeller State Park Preserve, Inc.

    $35,000 to hire fundraising and social media specialists to raise the funds needed to refurbish the roads around Swan Lake (Brothers’ Path)

    Walkway Over the Hudson

    $21,250 to increase the organization’s capacity to attract and host tour groups through training, outreach, and the development of site-specific, multi-lingual materials


    New York City – total awarded: $45,392

    Four Freedoms Park Conservancy, Inc.

    $33,392 to expand and implement print and digital advertising programs and new marketing initiatives to establish Four Freedoms State Park as a premier NYC destination

    Friends of Gantry Plaza State Park

    $12,000 to replace damaged Adirondack chairs, cast iron tree grates, and broken light fixtures, and for a postcard campaign to the surrounding neighborhood to publicize these improvements and Friends-led volunteer events


    North Country – total awarded: $11,647

    Friends of Crown Point State Historic Site

    $7,212 to install a monument that will promote visitation to the site by adding Crown Point to the “Knox Cannon Trail,” correcting a 1929 omission that incorrectly left Crown Point off of this heritage trail.

    Friends of the Nature Center, Inc.

    $4,435 to replace and enhance the signage for all 13 trails at the Minna Anthony Common Nature Center at Wellesley Island State Park


    Southern Tier – total awarded: $10,748

    Friends of Chenango Valley State Park

    Friends of Chenango Valley State Park

    $5,998 to purchase supplies for the new Interpretive Center building, an outdoor movie theater system, and build three recycling stations for the camping areas

    Friends of Gorge Parks

    $4,750 to achieve legal non-profit status for a new group that will steward Robert H. Treman, Buttermilk Falls, Taughannock Falls, Fillmore Glen, Watkins Glen, and Stony Brook State Parks


    Western New York – total awarded: $53,000

    Friends of Midway State Park

    $17,000 to boost visitation to the park and increase utilization of the new miniature golf course; profits from evening use of the golf course will further the Friends’ restoration and preservation efforts.

    Friends of Knox Farm State Park

    $36,000 to paint the clad exterior of the Main House and complete the restoration of the Main House and enhance the site’s appeal as an event space


    Background on the Park and Trail Partnership Grants Program

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    The Park and Trail Partnership Grants program is a $2,000,000 capacity-building matching grants program funded through the NYS Environmental Protection Fund. The program is designed to:

    • Enhance the preservation, stewardship, interpretation, maintenance and promotion of New York State parks, trails and state historic sites.
    • Increase the sustainability, effectiveness, productivity, and volunteer and fundraising capabilities of not-for-profit organizations that promote, maintain, and support New York State parks, trails and state historic sites.
    • 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.