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

• NYS Canal System is Now Open for Navigation Season. Read More.

• Greenway Planning, Greenway Trail, and Heritage Development Grant Applications are Available Through Our Online Grants Platform and the Upcoming Round's Applications are Due by September 1, 2023. More Details.

Community Planning Grant Fund Almost Doubles!

Thanks to Governor Hochul and the NYS Legislature, the Hudson River Valley Greenway is excited to announce an 84% increase in Planning and Compact Grant funds! This year, there is $250,000 available for these grants. All designated Greenway and Compact communities without a current grant are eligible to apply under this program. Good luck to all!

This increase in funding comes at a perfect time as applications have been increasingly competitive during grant rounds for Planning and Compact Grants. With the increase in funding, we are encouraging previously unfunded projects to reapply and designated Compact communities to apply for implementation projects to further their County Compact goals.

If you are interested in applying, grant applications are available through the online HRVG Grants Platform. Grant applications for our next round of grants are due September 1, 2023.

To learn more about Planning and Compact Grants, please visit our website or email us at grants@hudsongreenway.ny.gov.

Don't Forget to Submit Your Ramble Events

Event registration is open for the 2023 Hudson River Valley Ramble! We are once again inviting heritage sites, municipalities, organizations, businesses, individuals, and more to be our partners in this regional event!

The Hudson River Valley Ramble is an annual event series during the month of September that celebrates the history, culture, and natural resources of the Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area, as well as the amazing landscape, communities, and trails throughout the region.

Event registration is open to the 14 counties in the geographic area of the Hudson River Valley Greenway and Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area for any day during the month of September and October 1st. There will be a limited print of guidebooks this year, and events will be listed on our website. To be included in the 2023 guidebook we must receive your event submission by June 30, 2023. Any event submitted after that date will be included on our website and other event promotions. Submit your events now!

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to email us at Ramble@HudsonGreenway.ny.gov or give us a call at (518) 473-3835.

USS Slater, Albany Waterfront Gem Needs You

In May, USS Slater, a museum ship in Albany, invited National Heritage Area staff for a tour of the ship and an interview pertaining to their waning number of volunteers.

Tom Corgiliano our tour guide and volunteer aboard Slater is a retired administrator at SUNY Plattsburgh. He told us that he has, "never had as much fun ever in his life until being a volunteer for the Slater. I urge everyone to join me. We need manpower. People with any skills or some experience with painting, cleaning, welding, or carpentry. People who are looking for some learning experience." He explained that the opportunities don't end there. The USS Slater has many functions from their gift shop, to providing public tours, to helping with events, and to the everyday tasks of preserving a World War II-era destroyer escort.

Over 25 years ago, the only World War II-era destroyer escort still afloat was intended to be temporarily docked at the Albany waterfront after nearly being scrapped by the Greek Navy. In 2010, permanent mooring was installed, and Albany became the permanent home of the USS Slater DE-766. The USS Slater was engineered to protect convoys from enemy ships and air attacks during World War II, but it never came into conflict.

Today, the USS Slater has been incredibly preserved, but Executive Director Tim Rizzuto worries that may become increasingly difficult to maintain with a shrinking pool of volunteers. Tom Corgiliano mentioned during the tour that many of the volunteers are veterans who are aging or passed away and they need new volunteers to keep this treasure in Albany open to the public for far into the future.

To volunteer or help the USS Slater you can visit their website to learn more.

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 now on an online grants platform, HRVG Grants Platform.  This 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.

All applications for funding are required to submit grant applications on the 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.

Important Reminders

• Various Grant Opportunities are Being Offered Through the CFA Until July 28, 2023. Learn more.

New Municipal Guide: Best Practices for Adopting Conservation Inventories and Plans

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's Hudson River Estuary Program and Cornell University are pleased to share new guidance for municipalities to advance local conservation goals, developed in collaboration with Pace Land Use Law Center: Best Practices for Adopting Conservation Inventories and Plans: A Guide for Communities in the Hudson River Estuary Watershed (PDF). 

Through grants, technical assistance, and partner projects, the Estuary Program and Cornell have assisted municipalities in the estuary watershed with inventorying their natural areas including wildlife habitat, water resources, and scenery, and using those inventories as the foundation for conservation plans and policies. In the last decade, 34 towns, cities, and villages and three counties have used the program’s assistance to develop natural resources inventories (NRIs)—with more underway—and 40% have used their NRIs for conservation plans and policies.

To better support these initiatives, we developed Best Practices for Adopting Conservation Inventories and Plans to provide legal guidance and best practices for adopting and implementing NRIs, open space inventories and plans, and critical environmental areas. The publication explores three options—policy statements in resolutions, comprehensive plans, and local laws—and offers procedural guidance and many examples from Hudson Valley communities.

Upcoming Events

Miniature Worlds Up Close (WEBINAR)

June 1: Join the second installment of “Miniature Worlds up Close”! Midori Yoshimoto will discuss Kusama’s life and work in the downtown art scene of 1960s New York. Learn more.

Farm Market, John Jay Homestead State Historic Site, Katonah, NY

June 3: ]On Saturdays, come to shop from local farmers, bakers, and craftspeople who provide a variety of fruit, organic produce, meats, fish, dairy products, baked goods, and handcrafted products. Find out more.

Red Light, Green Light, Eat Right, Garden Around the Corner, Brewster, NY

June 4: This interactive kids' nutrition workshop invites 5-15-year-olds to make their own personalized healthy food posters to take home and learn about healthy eating. Read more.

Pinkster: Joy Is an Act of Resistance, Senate House State Historic Site, Kingston, NY

June 4: The day's activities will feature food, music, dance, and information on the history of this historically African American celebration. More info.

GHHN Stone Strategies Workshop, Bedford Historical Society, Bedford, NY

June 7: Join us for this full-day workshop: a morning full of practical, useful information and an afternoon in the cemetery learning functional hands-on preservation methods. Read more.

Grand Opening of The Pomeroy Family Railroad, Taconic State Park, Copake Falls, NY

June 7: Celebrate the grand opening of the Pomeroy Family Railroad at the Copake Iron Works and take an inaugural ride on the railroad. More details.

Historic Home Tour, Glenview, Yonkers, NY

June 8: Explore the six fully restored period rooms on a guided tour and see the fine woodwork, furnishings, artwork, and magnificent architectural features. Find out more.

Extreme Heat and Climate Change in New York State: Showcasing Local Solutions and Partnerships (WEBINAR)

June 8: This webinar will showcase local solutions from different communities across New York State and the people behind those solutions. Read more.

Eleanor Roosevelt Quarter Celebration, Culinary Institute of American, Hyde Park, NY

June 8: At the Ecolab Auditorium the event will include a panel discussion on Eleanor, a presentation by the U.S. Mint, and a special official launch of the quarter. More info.

The Gilded Age in Troy, Hart Cluett Museum, Troy, NY

June 10: Follow in the footsteps of the popular HBO series as you explore the many buildings and streets in the historic district that were used in filming Seasons One and Two of The Gilded Age. Learn more.

Dia Beacon Arts Education Program, Dia Beacon, Beacon, NY

June 10-11: This student exhibit will be featuring artworks made by the 2023 Arts Education Program participants. More details.

The History of Alexander Smith and Sons Carpet, Old Croton Aqueduct State Historic Park, Yonkers, NY

June 11: Join us for a talk on the history of this powerhouse company that once defined an industry and a city, employing more than a third of the workforce in Yonkers at its peak. Read more.

Lecture: Banastre Tarleton & The War Around Westchester (WEBINAR)

June 14: Join us as we discuss the early career of Britain's most famous cavalryman of the war and the actions fought in Westchester by his corps, the British Legion. Find out more.

Historic Architecture Symposium, Locust Grove Estate, Poughkeepsie, NY

June 16-17: Over two days attendees will have the opportunity to take an in-depth look at Alexander Jackson Davis’ work and tour and experience firsthand his lasting legacy on the American cultural landscape. Read more.

Colonial Crossroads Juneteenth Concert, Clermont State Historic Site, Germantown, NY

June 17: To celebrate Juneteenth a musical group will present a family-friendly interpretation of African and European traditions and instruments that influenced each other during the Colonial and Revolutionary years. More info.

Kalkberg Fossil Hunting, Thacher State Park, Voorheesville, NY

June 18: Join the search for fossils near the Thacher Visitor Center and learn about the ancient animals that used to call Thacher home. More details.

Children’s Day, New Windsor Cantonment State Historic Site, New Windsor, NY

June 18: A fun-filled day of family entertainment on Father's Day, with the Two-by-Two Animal Sanctuary, magician Mr. Bayly, and a host of 18th-century games. Learn more.

Summer Solstice Sunset Program with Whale of a Trail, Olana State Historic Site, Hudson, NY

June 21: Join Sarah Katan of Whale of a Trail Adventures for some refreshing science tidbits before watching the sunset over the Catskill Mountains. Read more.

Homeschoolers: June Bloom Hike, Minnewaska State Park Preserve, Kerhonkson, NY

June 22: Geared towards 7-12 year olds the group will take a walk on the Beacon Hill Footpath to identify different flora and discuss biodiversity at the Park Preserve. Learn more.

History Hidden in the Woods Guided Hike, Staatsburgh State Historic Site, Staatsburgh, NY

June 23: This guided hike will lead visitors through the park, exploring the history of three historic estates: from Staatsburgh's founding as a gentleman's farm in the 1700s to the development of The Point and Stonehurst estates in the 19th century. More details.

Colonial Carpentry, Fort Montgomery State Historic Site, Fort Montgomery, NY

June 24: Learn about the electricity-free, tools and techniques they used to build this Hudson River fort. Find out more.

Sewing from a Pattern: Pants!, Glebe House, Poughkeepsie, NY

June 24: Learn how to make your own pair of elastic-waist pants based on your personal measurements. More info.

Mushroom Walks with Chicory Naturalist, OPUS 40, Saugerties, NY

June 25: Join Chris Baker of Chicory Naturalist for a walk through the Opus 40 property — sculpture, meadow, woods, and trails — to identify and find edible mushrooms. More details.

Karner Blue Butterfly Walk, Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park, Gansevoort, NY

June 28: On a guided walk through the meadows at Old Gick Farm Parcel, learn about the Saratoga Sandplains ecosystem and the Karner Blue Butterfly, and how it became endangered. Find out more.

Helping Wheelchair Hikers Find Hiking Trails (WEBINAR)

June 29: Overview of a recently developed wheelchair-friendly filter showcasing how it was made, lessons learned, and how it serves their community of hikers. More details.

Free Concerts With Hudson Valley Folk Guide, Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park, Highland, NY

June 29: Bring a lawn chair, sit with us for a while & enjoy our musical friends from the Hudson Valley Folk Guild, sharing great tunes each Thursday night. More info.

Wildflower Walk, Rockefeller State Park Preserve, Pleasantville, NY

June 30: Join botanist, Patty Butter, for a leisurely walk and learn about the identification of late spring and early summer wildflowers. Learn more.

Let Freedom Ring, Senate House State Historic Site, Kingston, NY

July 1: Participate in commemorating American Independence at the Senate House! There will be music, and an Independence Ceremony featuring readings of important speeches on American Independence. Read more.

Heritage Spotlight: James Vanderpoel 'House of History', Columbia County

The Vanderpoel House in Kinderhook is a superb example of Federal architecture with a Chippendale-style balustrade, Palladian windows, and fanlights which was constructed circa 1819-1820 for prominent lawyer and civic leader, James Vanderpoel. The house is trimmed with marble and built with local brick, the side-gabled structure has two stories, five bays, and rests on a fieldstone foundation. The property is now an exhibit space featuring galleries of paintings and decorative arts from the Columbia County Historical Society's permanent collection. The Columbia County Historical Society Bookstore & Museum Shop is in the house. You can visit the James Vanderpoel House on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 am-4 pm. Learn more.

Project Spotlight: Mountaineer Rail Trail Project

The Town of Cairo in Greene County received a Conservancy Trail Grant to expand the Mountaineer Rail Trail and add trail amenities to the existing portion of the trail. The original trail was a .25-mile out-and-back trail with one access point. The trail expansion extended the trail by 500 feet and added a trailhead connecting to Main Street. Trail amenities such as wayfinding signs, a kiosk, benches, and more were added to the full portion of the trail. This trail expansion helps the Town of Cairo meet goals in its Comprehensive Plan, such as expanding recreational opportunities and providing community members with more public access to natural and historic resources. The trail runs on the old rail line of the Catskill Mountain Railroad that ran from Catskill Landing west to Cairo. The railroad connected local fruit growers, bluestone mines, and the growing tourist trade in Cairo to larger markets. After about 33 years, the railroad connecting to Cairo's Main Street shut down. With the newly improved trail, the community can once again begin to prosper from the same railbed that once connected this small community to larger markets, like New York City and Albany. Learn more about the Town of Cairo.

Smart Plant Selections Can Reduce Pesticide Use

Cool-season grasses such as tall and fine fescues, kentucky bluegrass, and perennial ryegrass are appropriate for the Northeast. Choose fescues for shadier areas. Pick grass seed mixes with more bluegrass for areas that are sunny and will receive more use. 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. Applications are due on HRVG's Online Grants Platform by September 1, 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 HRVG's Online Grants Platform by September 1, 2023. More info.

Heritage Development Grants

This grant program offers funding for programming, interpretation, and marketing projects that support the mutual goals of the Maurice D. Hinchey 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 HRVG's Online Grants Platform by September 1, 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. Applications are available on HRVG's Online Grants Platform. For more information, please contact Dan Jeanson at daniel.jeanson@hudsongreenway.ny.gov or 518-473-3835.

USDA Forest Service - Inflation Reduction Act Urban & Community Forestry 

The Inflation Reduction Act provides up to $1.5 billion for Urban and Community Forestry investments that foster increased and equitable access to urban tree canopy and associated human health, environmental, and economic benefits in disadvantaged communities, broadened community engagement in local urban forest planning, tree planting, and management activities, and improved community and urban forest resilience to climate change, extreme heat, forest pests and diseases, and storm events through best management and maintenance practices. Deadline: June 1, 2023. Learn more.

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.

Matching Awards Program - MAP: Connecting People to Forests Nationwide Grant Opportunity

MAP: Connecting People to Forests, focuses primarily on in-person community engagement and completion of appropriate stewardship activities. Program goals are to create lasting change that will allow all communities, especially underserved communities, opportunities to benefit from activities on National Forest System lands or adjacent public lands. Deadline: June 7, 2023. More details.

METRO Equity in Action Grant

The METRO Equity in Action Grant program aims to support METRO member institutions by providing funding for digital projects that focus on anti-racist practices and marginalized communities. Rooted in community and collaboration, this program encourages meaningful initiatives which cultivate knowledge exchange, and a pipeline for discovery and access. Deadline: June 9, 2023. Read more.

Market New York - Tourism Grant Program

Market New York is a grant program that supports regionally themed marketing projects that promote tourism destinations, attractions and special events, as well as tourism facility capital improvement projects. Additionally, eligible projects include the hosting, coordination and execution of special events new to New York State, and the promotion of agritourism and craft beverage tourism. Deadline: June 14, 2023. More info.

NEA Grants for Arts Projects 

This program offers grants in a wide range of artistic disciplines. Grants under the Museums category can be used for art conservation projects. Visit the NEA website at the link above to view all grant categories and application deadlines. Deadline: July 6, 2023. Learn more.

Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program

The purpose of SS4A grants is to improve roadway safety by significantly reducing or eliminating roadway fatalities and serious injuries through safety action plan development and implementation focused on all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, public transportation users, motorists, and commercial vehicle operators. Deadline: July 10, 2023. Find out more.

History of Equal Rights Grants Program

The State, Tribal, Local, Plans & Grants Division is now accepting applications for the History of Equal Rights (HER) grant program. Congress has appropriated $5 million for the HER program. Grant projects fund physical preservation or pre-preservation of sites associated with efforts to achieve equal rights. The History of Equal Rights grants are not limited to any specific group and are intended to include the broadest possible interpretation of equal rights for any American. Deadline: July 11, 2023. More details.

Tributary Restoration and Resiliency Grant Program

$650,000 in competitive funding is now available for projects to support the restoration of free-flowing waters to benefit water quality, conserve and restore habitat, and help communities with existing and projected impacts of localized flooding. Projects must conserve and restore aquatic habitat connectivity for American eel and/or river herring in tributary streams of the tidal Hudson River. Priority will be given to projects that are in closest sequential proximity to tidal waters. The minimum award amount is $10,500 and the maximum award is $150,000. Deadline: July 12, 2023. Learn more.

Local Stewardship Planning Grant Program

$900,000 is available for Local Stewardship Planning. The minimum award amount is $10,500 and the maximum award amount is $75,000. This RFA is designed to help local organizations and communities advance four categories of projects and programs through planning, feasibility studies, and/or design. Deadline: July 12, 2023. Find out more.

River Education Grant Program

$250,000 is available to support projects to enhance education about the estuary along the tidal waters of the Hudson and make opportunities to learn about the Hudson River Estuary more accessible for a wide range of people, especially communities underrepresented in science careers. The minimum grant award is $20,000, and the maximum grant amount is $100,000. Deadline: July 12, 2023. More info.

River Access Grant Program

$350,000 is available in the RFA for River Access for projects along the shoreline of the Hudson estuary, including the tidal portion of its tributaries, to improve access to the Hudson estuary for boating, fishing, swimming, and/or wildlife-related recreation on the estuary for people of all abilities, including people with disabilities. The minimum grant award is $10,500 and the maximum grant amount is $75,000. Deadline: July 12, 2023. More details.

Underrepresented Communities Grant Program

Congress has appropriated $1.25 million for the Underrepresented Communities Grant Program (URC) for FY 2023. The URC Grant Program supports the survey, inventory, and designation of historic properties that are associated with communities currently underrepresented in the National Register of Historic Places and among National Historic Landmarks. Deadline: July 18, 2023. Read more.

NEH Humanities Collections and Reference Resources

The Humanities Collections and Reference Resources program supports projects that provide an essential underpinning for scholarship, education, and public programming in the humanities. Proposed projects may address the holdings or activities of a single institution or may involve collaboration between institutions. Deadline: July 18, 2023. More info.

Community Impact Grants

$6 million is currently available for community-based organizations to address environmental harms facing historically underserved communities disproportionately burdened by environmental pollution. Grant awards of $50,000 to $100,000 are available for eligible organizations that have their primary office located in a Potential Environmental Justice Area, serving the residents of an area equal to or smaller than a town or city outside of New York City, or an area equal to or smaller than one of the five boroughs within New York City, and must address environmental or public health issues of the residents of the affected community. Deadline: July 26, 2023. Find out more.

Air Quality Monitoring Grant Program

$2.1 million is currently available for community-based organizations to support community-driven projects to improve air quality and help advance the goals of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. Grant awards of up to $500,000 are available for eligible community-based not-for-profit organizations working in disadvantaged communities throughout the state that are disproportionately burdened by pollution. The grants will advance local efforts to obtain air quality data tailored to issues identified by community residents. Deadline: July 26, 2023. Learn more.

Climate Smart Communities Grant Program

The Climate Smart Communities Grant Program provides competitive, 50/50 matching grants to municipalities to conduct climate change mitigation and adaptation projects, including actions that are part of a strategy to achieve Climate Smart Communities certification. Deadline: July 28, 2023. More info.

Water Quality Improvement Projects

WQIP funds implementation projects to improve water quality or aquatic habitat, promote flood risk reduction, restoration, and enhanced flood and climate resiliency, or protect a drinking water source. Deadline: July 28, 2023. Read more.

Non-Agricultural Nonpoint Source Planning and MS4 Mapping Grant

NPG funds the production of planning reports for nonpoint source water quality improvement projects and mapping of municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4). Deadline: July 28, 2023. Learn more.

Wastewater Infrastructure Engineering Planning Grant

Engineering reports are required in the EFC financing application process. Grants are available to help municipalities jump-start their work early on with funding for initial planning, so they can be better prepared to seek financing to help them complete their wastewater, sewer, and water quality projects. Grants of up to $100,000 are available to municipalities to help fund an engineering report. Deadline: July 28, 2023. More details.

Green Innovation Grant Program

The Green Innovation Grant Program (GIGP) supports projects across New York State that utilize unique EPA-designated green stormwater infrastructure design and create cutting-edge green technologies. Competitive grants are awarded annually to projects that improve water quality and mitigate the effects of climate change through the implementation of one or more of the following green practices: Green Stormwater Infrastructure, Energy Efficiency, Water Efficiency, and Environmental Innovation. Deadline: July 28, 2023. Read more.

Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-Saving Transportation (PROTECT) Program

new competitive grant program created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help make surface transportation more resilient to natural hazards, including climate change, sea level rise, flooding, extreme weather events, and other natural disasters. Up to $848 million in Fiscal Year 2022 and 2023 funding is available. Deadline: August 18, 2023. More details.

NYSCA/GHHN Conservation Treatment Grant Program

These grants support treatment procedures by professional conservators to aid in stabilizing and preserving objects in collections of museums, historical, and cultural organizations in New York State with up to a maximum of $7,500. Deadline: September 1, 2023. Find out 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.