Scenic Hudson to Receive DEC Grant

PHOTO: View of Hudson River from Breakneck Ridge, Jeffrey Pang via commons.wikimedia.org

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced $1.8 million in grants to nonprofit land trusts around the state. One of the organizations receiving a Conservation Partnership Program grant is Scenic Hudson, headquartered in Poughkeepsie, which has created or enhanced more than 60 parks and historic sites along the Hudson River.

Including the grant to Scenic Hudson, the Mid-Hudson region will receive grants totaling $480,550 from DEC.

The grants will leverage an additional $2.25 million in private and local funding to support projects that will protect farmland, wildlife habitat and water quality; enhance public access for outdoor recreational opportunities; and conserve priority open space areas. These open space areas are important for community health, tourism and regional economic development, according to a statement announcing the grants.

The Land Trust Alliance administers the Conservation Partnership Program in coordination with DEC.

Other Mid-Hudson recipients of the grants include the Delaware Highlands Conservancy, the Dutchess Land Conservancy, Mianus River Gorge, Mohonk Preserve, the Orange County Land Trust, the Wallkill Valley Land Trust, and the Westchester Land Trust. An additional 13 organizations in the Mid-Hudson Valley are also receiving grants from DEC.