Awards for Parks and Trails Statewide
In mid-December 2017, Governor Cuomo announced that more than 1,000 projects across the state will receive $755 million in awards through the seventh round of the Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) competition. Regional Councils were established in 2011 to create a different approach to economic development. The REDC use a community based approach with local government, the public, business, and academic leaders working together to develop strategic plans for their region. Included in the projects awarded are grants for parks, trails, complete streets, and other quality of life economic development projects.
Read about how the New York State Park System contributes to New York State’s economy.
The table below shows a breakdown of the different regions for the number and value of total projects and projects related to parks, trails, historic preservation, and bicycle infrastructure projects. We included several state grant programs in our analysis, most through the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF); EPF Municipal Parks (parks, historic preservation, heritage areas), Federal Recreational Trails Program, EPF Local Waterfront Revitalization Program, EPF Climate Smart Communities Program, Empire State Development Market New York Program, Water Quality Improvement Project Program, and Environmental Facilities Corporation Green Innovation Grant Program.
# Park Projects | $ Park Projects | # Total Projects | $ Total Projects | |
Mid Hudson | 17 | 6.9 | 113 | 84.8 |
New York City | 12 | 9.1 | 121 | 64.8 |
Long Island | 11 | 4.4 | 98 | 84.3 |
Central | 18 | 7.7 | 112 | 86.4 |
Mohawk Valley | 10 | 2.4 | 101 | 85.5 |
Capital District | 20 | 5.3 | 110 | 85 |
North Country | 2 | .157 | 81 | 64.9 |
Finger Lakes | 9 | 1 | 110 | 63.9 |
Southern Tier | 10 | 1.6 | 83 | 67.3 |
Western New York | 17 | 3.4 | 112 | 68.8 |
Each region had a number of projects, we have included a selection below. Click here to see the full project list.
New York City Region
Project: Harlem River Living Shoreline Access- Bridge Park (Bronx)
Program: EPF Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (Department of State (DOS))
Amount: $2,000,000
Summary: The NYC Department of Parks Recreation will plan, design and construct Bridge Park on the Harlem River between the High Bridge and W. 175th Street on the Bronx waterfront. The project will convert five acres of degraded unused waterfront into parkland, install bike lane connections adding a half mile to the Harlem River Greenway, employ a living shoreline approach to reconstruct the degraded hardened river edge, and provide river access points for viewing and passive recreation.
Long Island Region
Project: Hempstead Harbor Shoreline Trail (Nassau)
Program: EPF Municipal Parks (Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation (OPRHP))
Amount: $450,000
Summary: The Town of North Hempstead is completing the final two segments of the trail along the western shore of Hempstead Harbor, Port Washington in the Town of North Hempstead increasing the existing recreational trail by approximately 4972 linear feet.
Central Region
Project: Green Lakes State Park Green Infrastructure Improvements (Onondaga)
Program: Environmental Facilities Corporation Green Innovation Grant Program
Amount: $1,000,000
Summary: Green Lakes State Park will install porous pavement, bioretention, rain gardens, rain barrels and tree plantings as part of a larger site improvement project. These green infrastructure practices will reduce the volume of stormwater runoff entering Green Lake, a rare meromictic lake that attracts as many as 8,000 daily visitors during the summer.
Mohawk Valley
Project: Ava Town Park (Oneida)
Program: EPF Municipal Parks (OPRHP)
Amount: $251,191
Summary: The Town of Ava will construct the town's first park. Amenities will include a pavilion, restroom, picnic area, ball field, playground, fitness/nature trail and parking area.
Mid-Hudson
Project: Kingston Waterfront Empire State Trail Improvements (Ulster)
Program: Recreation Trails Program (OPRHP)
Amount: $178,000
Summary: The City of Kingston will upgrade a .75 stone dust trail through the Hudson Landing property along the Hudson River. This project will improve a future section of the Empire State Trail and Kingston Greenline trail already in development.
Western New York
Project: Town of Amherst Canalway Trail Hopkins Road Trail Safety Enhancements (Amherst)
Program: Recreational Trails Program (OPRHP) and Canalway Matching Grant Program (NYS Canal Corporation)
Amount: $190,000
Summary: The Town of Amherst will make safety improvements and trail enhancements recommended in a 2017 study to sections of the Canalway Trail in Amherst and to the Hopkins Road Boardwalk and Trail.
Finger Lakes
Project: Rochester Museum & Science Center Cumming Nature Center Trails Improvement (Rochester)
Program: Recreational Trails Program (OPRHP)
Amount: $50,695
Summary: Rochester Museum and Science Center will refurbish the recreational trail systems, repair a trailside structure and purchase of upgraded motorized grooming equipment for increasing year-round trail usage. The trail refurbish will increase access and safety to the remote parts of the Cumming Nature Center’s preserve.
Southern Tier
Project: Town of Dryden Dryden Rail Trail Phase 1 (Dryden)
Program: EPF Municipal Parks (OPRHP)
Amount: $182,000
Summary: Town of Dryden will create a multi-use, non-motorized trail on the abandoned Lehigh Valley rail corridor. The parts of the trail will be cleared of vegetation, resurfaced and graded. The project includes installation of two timber pile-and-beam railroad bridges over Cascadilla Creek. The trials will connect with other trails in the area for commuter and recreational use.
Capital District
Project: Jerry Burrell Park Improvement (Schenectady)
Program: EPF Municipal Parks (OPRHP)
Amount: $205,417
Summary: The project will re-construct a handball court, rehabilitate tennis and basketball courts, repave walkways, add landscaping, fencing and install adequate lighting to eliminate any safety concerns. Improvements are needed to realize the true potential of the urban parkland.
North Country
Project: Playground (Deferiet)
Program: EPF Municipal Parks (OPRHP)
Amount: $73,328
Summary: The Village of Deferiet will build a new updated and safe playground built on the existing playground footprint with proposed new protective ground cover. The playground will create an opportunity for parents, grandparents and kids to go out and play and picnic. A revitalized recreational area will also serve residents as a community gathering space.