The State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the Department of Environmental Conservation, and the advocacy group Parks & Trails New York have awarded grants to support nonprofit organizations involved with stewardship of 29 state parks, historic sites and public lands.
The grants—including five in the area—provided to partner organizations will help to improve the maintenance of these historic open spaces.
The grants “will help bolster efforts to keep New York’s open spaces beautiful and pristine at a time when more New Yorkers than ever are turning to nature for refuge and relaxation,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. “New York is thankful for this dedicated group of volunteers, which provide invaluable support to our park system by devoting their time to help make improvements that all of us can enjoy.”
The program grants are funded through the state Environmental Protection Fund .
Grants in the area went to:
• 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.
• Lake George Battlefield Park Alliance, $3,528, to purchase new signs in the park.
• The Friends of U.S. Grant Cottage in Wilton, $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.
• Wilton Wildlife Preserve, $4,800, to fund new signs for trail kiosks and school programming on the environmental history of the Saratoga Sand Plains.
