Green space gets the greenbacks

The announcement of the annual Regional Economic Development Council's (REDC) awards in December each year is always a time for anticipation, as communities and projects from around the state eagerly wait to hear if they'll be selected for funding. And once again in 2019, many of those who had submitted proposals for trails and parks projects came away happy. Each year, the REDC process has recognized the economic development impact from investment in open space and recreation, and have selected a far-ranging array of park- and trail-related projects as part of the $761 million in total awarded across the state.

Trails projects were recognized as supporting connections between communities, allowing people to get to the places they needed to by means other than relying on cars. The great momentum from these efforts will continue with the completion of the Empire State Trail in 2020 as New York claims it's place as the country's leader in multi-use trails.

A selection of projects receiving funding through the Regional Economic Development Councils include:

• $472,125 for the City of North Tonawanda to construct a bike/ped trail linking Mayor’s Park and the North Tonawanda Botanical Gardens.
• $845,104 for the Village of Scotia and Town of Glenville to construct improvements to the Scotia-Glenville Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail and adjacent Collins Park.
• $391,000 for the Towns of Clifton Park and Halfmoon to construct improvements to the Erie Canal Towpath trail running along the north side of the Mohawk River.
• $350,000 for the Albany Symphony to present the Trailblaze NY Festival, celebrating the Empire State Trail through all day music and art events in EST communities.
• $150,000 for improvements to the northernmost stretch of the Champlain Canalway Trail, allowing the stretch between Fort Ann and Whitehall to move off-road.
• $250,000 for the Phase 2 of the Kingston Point Rail Trail, connecting downtown Kingston with the Hudson River waterfront
• $475,700 for buffered bike lanes and sidewalks and stormwater management along Henry W. Dubois Drive (part of the Empire State Trail) in the Town of New Paltz.
• $250,000 for paving, lighting and signage at two parking lots at the western entrance to the Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park.
• $237,500 for a trail segment and pedestrian bridge connecting the east and west sides of the Harlem Valley Rail Trail in Copake.
• $600,000 for The Trust for Public Land towards a pilot segment of the Long Island Extension of the Empire State Trail, which straddles Nassau and Suffolk counties and connects three existing parks and the Nassau-Suffolk Greenbelt Trail.

Parks were recognized as centerpieces of communities: public gathering spaces that allow for education, recreation, and reflection. Many of the grants awarded were given to Friends groups, recognizing the importance of citizen engagement in promoting and protecting our public realm. Among the park projects receiving awards were:

• $145,310 for the Planting Fields Foundation, the Friends group for Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park, to restore roofing and the terrace on a historic structure.
• $600,000 for the Randall’s Park Alliance in New York City to repurpose a vacant building into a Nature Center.
• $600,000 for the Friends of John Jay Homestead State Historic Site to implement a fire safety plan and fire protection upgrades to protect the celebrated home of the Founding Father.
• $197,041 for the Friends of Clermont State Historic Site to restore the exteriors of the Livingston Mansion, the West Terrace, and Retaining Wall.
• $500,000 for the Sonnenberg Gardens Inc., associated with Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion State Historic Site to build an ADA compliant gate, entrance, and driveway from Route 21.
• $1,000,000 to the Buffalo Harbor State Park to construct the Buffalo Harbor State Park Gateway Center; the facility will serve as park offices, public bathrooms, year-round comfort stations, and a rental space.
• $250,000 to the Friends of Rockefeller State Park to rehabilitate the historic carriage roads that modernly serve as the Brothers Path, Upper Trail, Middle Trail, the Foundation Loop at Rockwood Hall and the walking path surrounding Swan Lake.

The full list of funding awards made is available on the REDC website at regionalcouncils.ny.gov.