Kevin M. Burke, Chair, Greenway Conservancy for the Hudson River Valley,

Co-Chair, Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area

Margaretta “Meg” Downey, Chair, Hudson River Valley Greenway Communities Council, Co-Chair, Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area

Scott Keller, Executive Director, Hudson River Valley Greenway,

Director, Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area 

Important Reminders

• Greenway Planning, Greenway Trail, and Heritage Development Grant Applications are Available Through the Good Grants Online Platform by February 3, 2023. More details.

• Purchase the New Cycling Guidebook Highlighting the Hudson River Valley Greenway Trail in the Hudson Valley and the Empire State Trail in the Hudson and Champlain Valleys. More info.

Governor Kathy Hochul Appoints Meg Downey Chair of Hudson River Valley Greenway Communities Council

The Hudson River Valley Greenway (HRVG) is pleased to announce that Margaretta (Meg) Downey has been appointed by Governor Kathy Hochul as Chair for the Hudson River Valley Greenway Communities Council. Meg Downey brings a wealth of experience and dedication to the HRVG since her first appointment as a member of the Hudson River Valley Greenway Communities Council in June 2016.

Downey served as the previous executive editor and editorial page editor of the Poughkeepsie Journal and, later, managing editor of the Tennessean in Nashville. She has won more than 40 national awards, including twice being designated a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, one of which was for editorials she wrote advocating for the creation of the HRVG. Meg has also been an editor and contributing writer for 10 books, a magazine editor, a television news show cohost, and an instructor of journalism at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie for nine years. She has served on the boards of the Associated Press Media Editors, the National Conference of Editorial Writers (now the Association of Opinion Journalists), and the New York Fair Trial Free Press Conference.

HRVG Releases the Albany-Hudson Electric Trail 2022 Trail Use Report

The Hudson River Valley Greenway (HRVG) released the Albany-Hudson Electric Trail 2022 Trail Use Report. The report includes visitation numbers to four different trail sections on the Albany-Hudson Electric Trail (AHET) using automated counters to count users and a visual trail use survey to analyze user types.

In 2021, HRVG initiated a program to collect data on the public's use of the AHET by installing four automated counters along the 36-mile rail trail. The “Pyro-Box” counters, manufactured by the company Eco-Counter, use an infrared sensor to record the number of trail users passing by the unit, and store data in hourly increments.

The four AHET counters registered a total of 168,238 trail users during a 12-month period from November 1, 2021, to October 31, 2022:

• Town of East Greenbush: 54,555 visits
• Village of Nassau: 31,798 visits
• Hamlet of North Chatham: 33,379 visits
• Village of Kinderhook: 48,506 visits

To understand how people use the AHET trail, HRVG conducted visual surveys

of trail users in various locations over 14 hours during September and October 2022. During the visual survey, pedestrians accounted for 56% of AHET visitors and bicyclists accounted for 44%. The survey also accounted for types of pedestrian and bicyclist visitors, which can be viewed in the full report.

The Albany-Hudson Electric Trail 2022 Trail Use Report is the first analysis of the AHET since its completion in 2020. HRVG plans to collect data at new locations each year and after three years’ worth of data has been collected there will be sufficient data to project total annual visitation to AHET. The full report can be found on HRVG's website.

Hudson River Valley Greenway's Grant Applications Are Now Hosted on Good Grants

Grant applications for all Hudson River Valley Greenway and Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage grant programs, including Community/Compact Planning, Conservancy Trail, and Heritage Development Grants are hosted by Good Grants, an online grants platform. The online HRVG Grants Platform went live on November 5, 2022, and is the only way to apply for our grants. A link to the virtual application process and detailed guidance may be found on our website. This change is being made in part to help ensure we are receiving full and complete applications that may then be considered immediately. Previously, incomplete applications were automatically rejected.

All applications for funding are required to submit grant applications on the new online platform to apply for funding for all grant rounds. Applicants must register on the HRVG Grant Platform using their email addresses. Older applications will not be accepted.

If you have any questions or concerns, email grants@hudsongreenway.ny.gov or call us at (518) 473-3835.

Two Hudson Valley Historic Sites Receive New York State Historic Preservation Awards for 2022

On December 28, 2022, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that nine projects throughout New York State are being recognized with the 2022 New York State Historic Preservation Awards. Two of the nine award recipients are historic sites located in the Hudson Valley.

The Hudson Valley award recipients are:

• The Jay Estate Gardens at the Jay Heritage Center a designated National Heritage Area site in Rye is recognized for Excellence in Nonprofit Achievement. The transformational design of the gardens not only reflects the historic context, but emphasizes intentionality to restore native species and original voices and to cultivate an appreciation and understanding of sustainable landscapes through partnerships and public outreach.

• The F.R. Bain House in Poughkeepsie is recognized for Excellence in Historic Building Rehabilitation. The project is the culmination of a multi-year effort by homeowner Kimberlee Breden to diligently restore her historic 1888 Queen Anne-style home by utilizing the Historic Homeownership Rehabilitation Credit.

Created in 1980, the State Historic Preservation Awards are presented by the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation each year to honor excellence in the protection and revitalization of historic and cultural resources. Read the full press release.

Important Reminders

• Attend the Harmful Algal Bloom Research Symposium on January 5 and 6, 2023. Register now.

Piermont Marsh Pilot Shoreline Stabilization Project

Piermont Marsh is one of four sites within the Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve (HRNERR) and is the largest brackish tidal marsh in the estuary, providing an ecologically significant habitat that is uncommon in the region. During Hurricane Sandy, which severely impacted the area, the marsh acted as a wave buffer and filtered water-borne debris, which accumulated in the marsh instead of affecting residences and village infrastructure.

Ongoing monitoring and a review of historical aerial imagery and maps indicate that the Piermont Marsh shoreline has eroded 1/2 to 1 1/2 feet per year over the past 75 years.

Since July 2022, HRNERR, in partnership with the Hudson River Valley Greenway, New York State Thruway Authority, and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, has been implementing a pilot shoreline stabilization project at Piermont Marsh to help to protect against marsh loss and bolster the resilience of the village.

Coir logs and two parallel oyster castle sills are being installed in the intertidal zone along the edge of the marsh to control erosion by reducing wave energy and promoting sediment accretion. Learn more.

Upcoming Events

Family Art Workshop: Your Life in Art, Hudson River Museum, Yonkers, NY

Saturdays & Sundays: Transform memories from different stages of your life into art, using concepts from Cycles of Nature as inspiration. More details.

LUMAGICA, Stone Ridge Orchard Winter Garden, Stone Ridge, NY

January 3: Be marveled with over 500,000 lights, whimsical creatures, creative storytelling, and lots of fun surprises. More info.

3rd Annual Virtual Harmful Algal Bloom Research Symposium (WEBINAR)

January 5-6: Tune in to hear about the latest Harmful Algal Bloom Research, discuss examples of effective bloom management, and learn about the latest technologies tackling this global issue. Read more.

The Prison & The Village, Old Croton Aqueduct State Historic Park, Ossining, NY

January 6: Take a guided tour along the aqueduct and learn about Sing Sing Prison and Ossining. Learn more.

Salutations of the Season!, Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site, Albany, NY

January 7: An evening of merriment! Once again, Schuyler Mansion and Friends will welcome visitors in person for the annual Twelfth Night Celebration. Find out more.

Town of Mamaroneck Winter Tree Walk, Sheldrake River Trail, Larchmont, NY

January 8: Learn how to be a tree detective and use other clues to identify winter trees. More details.

Pedaling with Edward Hopper, Edward Hopper House Museum, Nyack, NY

January 10: Mike Hays will explore what made Hopper’s own bike special, his early drawings of cyclists, and the artist's fascination with the popular Madison Square 6-day bicycle races of the 1930s. More info.

The View from Olana: Preserving America’s Cultural Landscape (WEBINAR)

January 12: Join an examination of how historic and aesthetic landscape, and other aspects of “community character,” has become a valued component of environmental review. Read more.

Nature Walk, Gardiner Library, Gardiner, NY

January 13: Join a Park Educator for a 1-mile nature walk from the library to the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail and then through Majestic Park. More info.

Gloweegee Preserve Walk, Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park, Wilton, NY

January 15: Take a guided hike to learn new information about the sights and sounds of your favorite Saratoga PLAN trails. Find out more.

Flag Changing Ceremony, Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park, Highland, NY

January 16: The American Legion Post 739 organize and present monthly flag-changing ceremonies on the Walkway bridge to honor our region's veterans and their service to our country. Learn more.

The Blue Ribbon AIS Commission – Process, Participation and Final Report (WEBINAR)

January 18: Hear how the AIS Commission with input from experts on aquatic invasive species-related topics created a final report with recommendations to improve AIS management in the US. Read more.

Community Science: Winter Raptor Survey, Five Rivers Environmental Education Center, Delmar, NY

January 20: People with bird-watching skills or the desire to learn are needed to help discover winter-feeding areas of endangered raptor species. Find out more.

Mid-Hudson Astronomical Association Monthly Star Party, Lake Taghkanic State Park, Ancram, NY

January 20: MHAA hosts a monthly stargazing party in the West Beach parking lot. Read more.

Drop-In Snowshoe Lessons, Minnewaska State Park Preserve, Cragsmoor, NY

January 21: This is designed for people who are beginners, interested in trying snowshoeing as a new winter activity. More info.

Tiffany Lethabo King Lecture, Dia:Beacon, Beacon, NY

January 22: In conjunction with Leslie Hewitt, scholar Tiffany L. King will present research stemming from her book The Black Shoals: Offshore Formations of Black and Native Studies. Learn more.

Scale Up: Workshop on Throwing Large Work, Glebe House, Poughkeepsie, NY

January 23: This demonstration-based one-day workshop will cover preparing for and the foundations of throwing larger work. More details.

Evaluation of the Impacts of Storm Surge Barriers on Tides, Salinity, and Sediment Transport Processes in the Hudson River Estuary (WEBINAR)

January 24: Dr. Ralston will discuss his independent research and findings on the potential impacts of a storm surge barrier located in the Verrazzano Narrows section of Upper Bay, New York Harbor. Read more.

Winter Hiking Tips: Plan, Prepare, Explore! (WEBINAR)

January 25: Join Trail Conference's Don Weise for tips on finding and preparing for successful winter hikes. More info.

Snowshoe Hike, Grafton Lakes State Park, Grafton, NY

January 27: Take a short hike out to our observation area on Long Pond, and back to the Welcome Center. Find out more.

Evolution and Ecology Teacher Workshop, New York State Museum, Albany, NY

January 28: This is a one-day hybrid program held at the NYS Museum and virtually. The workshop is a professional-development opportunity for science teachers, especially those who teach biology and environmental science to middle and high school students. Learn more.

Coexisting with Coyotes, Rockefeller State Park Preserve, Pleasantville, NY

January 29: Join Dana Goin from the Wolf Conservation Center for a presentation about coyotes, their history and ecology, and what you can do to best coexist with them. More details.

Heritage Spotlight: Dia:Beacon, Dutchess County

Dia:Beacon is a museum of contemporary art with more exhibition space than Manhattan’s Guggenheim, Whitney Museum, and MoMA combined. The 16-foot-high ceilings, sawtooth skylights, and interior spaces in the former Nabisco box-printing plant make it an appropriate setting for the Dia Foundation’s permanent collection of art from the 1960s and ‘70s. Each of the artists represented has individual galleries fashioned specifically for their creations. Taken together, their works represent nearly all of the important late 20th-century art movements—abstract expressionism, minimalism, conceptual and pop art. Highlights include works by Andy Warhol, Dan Flavin, and Richard Serra. Learn more.

Project Spotlight: Town of Gardiner Community Preservation Plan

The Town of Gardiner in Ulster County received a Community Planning Grant to develop a Community Preservation Plan that is designed to implement the

Town’s adopted planning policies for natural and cultural resource preservation and to plan for

the community’s future. The Plan built on existing data in the Comprehensive Plan, Open Space Plan, and Natural Resources Inventory to prepare for a Community Preservation Fund. With success, their Community Preservation Fund was recently created and the Town of Gardiner Supervisor Marbeth Majestic said, "These funds have enabled our town to move forward in creating our Community Preservation Plan (CPP), which positioned the town to successfully pass a ballot referendum in the November 8, 2022 election, creating a Community Preservation Fund for the Town of Gardiner. Without this grant award from the Hudson River Greenway, we would not have been able to achieve this great success." As of 2020, preserved land in Gardiner consists of Minnewaska State Park (2890 acres), Mohonk Preserve (1966 acres), Town parks and recreation land (275 acres), and other lands (1450 acres). Read the full Community Preservation Plan.

Storing Gasoline

Vapor escaping from gas cans creates tons of air pollution per day, including benzene, and ozone which makes asthma symptoms and smog worse. Buy a new gas can that seals automatically when the spout isn't being used. The seal keeps the gas and vapors in the can where they belong. Use a metal or other newer approved gas can that can be easily handled and held. Learn more.

Grant and Funding Opportunities

Greenway Conservancy Trail Grant Program

This grant program is dedicated to funding recreational trail projects. Special consideration is given to projects that seek to implement the goals of the Greenway Trail Program. There is a new application for this program. Applicants should not use an older version. Applications are due on Good Grants by February 3, 2023. More details.

Hudson River Valley Greenway Community Grant Program

Matching grants are available for Greenway Communities and Greenway Compact Communities. Applications are due on Good Grants by February 3, 2023. More info.

Heritage Development Grants

This grant program offers funding for programming, interpretation, and marketing projects that support the mutual goals of the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area and applicants. Grants will typically range from $1,000 to $7,500. Grant program guidelines and applications are available on the HRVNHA's website. Please note that staff time is eligible to be reimbursed, but only if that staff time is for the direct development of programming or interpretation, as identified in the grant application. Applications are due on Good Grants by February 3, 2023. Learn more.

National Heritage Area Sponsorships Available

The Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area (HRVNHA) will partner with various organizations to sponsor programs and events that reinforce the Heritage Area’s mission. While complimenting the mission of the Heritage Area, cultural, heritage, and recreational events deliver significant tourism and economic benefits to communities, and encourage local and regional partnerships. Municipalities and nonprofit 501(c)3 organizations located within the HRVNHA are eligible to apply. The application and budget form can be found on our website. For more information, please contact Dan Jeanson at daniel.jeanson@hudsongreenway.ny.gov or 518-473-3835.

Create a Watershed Super Hero Poster Contest

NYSDEC and the New York Water Environment Association are sponsoring a "Create a Watershed Super Hero" poster contest open to all middle school students. Fourteen winners will have the honor of having their artwork in a 2024 calendar distributed across New York State. The deadline for submitting posters is January 6, 2023. Find contest details on DEC's Create a Watershed Super Hero Poster Contest webpage.

New York State Program for the Conservation and Preservation of Library Research Materials Grants

This grant program provides $500,000 each year for preserving materials in the collections of libraries, archives, historical societies, and similar agencies. The grant awards for 2022-2023 will be limited to a minimum of $2,500 and a maximum of $40,000. Deadline: January 6, 2023. Read more.

Preservation Assistance Grants for Smaller Institutions

This program encourages applications from small and mid-sized institutions that have never received an NEH grant; community colleges, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities; and Native American tribes and Native Alaskan and Native Hawaiian organizations with significant humanities collections. Furthermore, organizations or collections that represent the contributions of under-represented communities are highly encouraged. Deadline: January 12, 2023. Learn more.

National Endowment for the Humanities: Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections Grant Program

This program helps cultural institutions meet the complex challenge of preserving large and diverse holdings of humanities materials for future generations by supporting sustainable conservation measures that mitigate deterioration, prolong the useful life of collections, and strengthen institutional resilience. Deadline: January 12, 2023. More info.

Larry J. Hackman Research Residency Program

The Larry J. Hackman Research Residency Program supports advanced work on New York State history, government, or public policy using historical records in the State Archives. The program is intended to defray travel-related research expenses and fund on-site research at the Archives by faculty and graduate students in the humanities and social, natural, and life sciences, public historians, and teachers. Deadline: January 15, 2023. Find out more.

National Forest Foundation 2023 Matching Awards Program

The program supports action-oriented projects that enhance outdoor experiences, forest and ecosystem health, and engage local communities in caring for their public lands. Deadline: January 23, 2023. More info.

Flood Mitigation Assistance Grant

Flood Mitigation Assistance is a competitive grant program that provides funding to states, local communities, federally recognized tribes and territories. Funds can be used for projects that reduce or eliminate the risk of repetitive flood damage to buildings insured by the National Flood Insurance Program. Deadline: January 27, 2023. More details.

Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities

FEMA’s BRIC grant program gives states, local communities, tribes and territories funding to address future risks to natural disasters, including ones involving: wildfires, drought, hurricanes, earthquakes, extreme heat, and flooding. Addressing these risks helps make communities more resilient. In addition to providing funding, the BRIC program offers help to communities in the form of non-financial Direct Technical Assistance that can provide holistic hazard mitigation planning and project support. Deadline: January 27, 2023. Find out more.

National Park Service Mellon Humanities Postdoctoral Fellowship

In collaboration with NPS staff and partners, the incoming cohort of fifteen (15) Fellows will contribute to planning and preparation for America at 250, an initiative inspired by the semi-quincentennial of the Declaration of Independence. This event provides an opportunity for the NPS to tell a more inclusive story of the American past and present. The NPS is committed to exploring the full complexity of our history, even if that history is uncomfortable, contested, or erased. The humanities research supported by this Fellowship will expand these efforts, encouraging creative approaches to documentation, interpretation, and outreach. Deadline: January 30, 2022. Learn more.

Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Grants Program

The Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) program was established in 2014 and is funded through the Land and Water Conservation Fund. ORLP is a nationally competitive program targeting grant assistance to help economically disadvantaged urban communities with no, or almost no, access to publicly available, close-by, outdoor recreation. Funds can be used for the acquisition and/or development of, or to substantially renovate obsolete, public parks and other outdoor recreation spaces. Deadline: January 31, 2023. More info.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation High Hazard Dam Rehabilitation Grant

The goal of the High Hazard Dam Rehabilitation Grant program is to provide funding for technical, planning, design, and other pre-construction activities related to the repair, replacement, reconstruction, or removal activities associated with the rehabilitation of an eligible high-hazard potential dam. Deadline: February 10, 2023. More details.

Tibor T. Polgar Undergraduate Fellowship

The Tibor T. Polgar Undergraduate Fellowship program is a student research program of the Hudson River Foundation conducted in cooperation with the NYSDEC. Named in honor of Dr. Tibor T. Polgar, a major participant in the early planning and development of the Foundation, the program provides a summer grant and research funds for up to eight undergraduate students to conduct research on the Hudson River, under the guidance of a faculty mentor. Deadline: February 13, 2023. Read more. 

2023 Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Grant Program

The RAISE program is a discretionary grant program for investments in surface transportation infrastructure that will have a significant local or regional impact. Eligible projects for RAISE grants are capital projects including but not limited to highway, bridge, road projects, public transportation projects, freight rail transportation projects, port infrastructure investments, or planning projects. Deadline: February 23, 2023. Find out more.

NYS Canal System Tourism Infrastructure and Events Grants

The New York State Canal Corporation, through the Reimagine the Canals initiative, and the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor offer competitive grant funding to support tourism and recreation along the New York State Canal System. The program prioritizes support for tourism infrastructure and amenity improvements, and events. Funding is open to counties, municipalities, units of local government, not-for-profit organizations, and federally recognized Native American tribes. Deadline: February 24, 2023. Learn more.

Major Collaborative Archival Initiatives

The National Historical Publications and Records Commission of the National Archives supports projects that promote access to America's historical records to encourage understanding of our democracy, history, and culture. Draft Deadline: February 15, 2023. Deadline: May 3, 2023. Read more.

Tree Planting in Disadvantaged Communities After Ash Tree Loss Grant Opportunity

The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Division of Lands and Forests announced funding for Tree Planting in Disadvantaged Communities After Ash Tree Loss. Funding for this two-year grant comes from the US Forest Service and National Association of State Foresters through the State Urban Forest Resilience Grant and from the NYS Environmental Protection Fund. Grant projects must plant trees for urban and community forests in New York State. Deadline: May 30, 2023. More info.

Mellon Planning Grants for Collaborative Digital Editions in African American, Asian American, Hispanic American, and Native American History and Ethnic Studies

The National Historical Publications and Records Commission of the National Archives supports projects that promote access to America's historical records to encourage understanding of our democracy, history, and culture. Draft Deadline April 1, 2023. Final Deadline: June 7, 2023. Read more.

Extreme Terrain’s Clean Trail Grant Program

This program will provide eligible groups the opportunity to apply for a grant to fund their next trail improvement-related project, which could range from trail clean-up, trail restoration, trail expansion, to name a few. Learn more.

New York State Assembly Grants Action News 

State, federal, and private grant information from the New York State Assembly. More info.