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 our Online Grants Platform by May 5, 2023. More details.

NHA Event Sponsorship Applications Are Now Exclusively on Our Online Grants Platform

Sponsorship applications for the Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area Sponsorship program, including Event Programming and Event Promotion, have moved to an online application process. The online HRVG Platform for sponsorships went live on February 3, 2023, and is the only way to apply for our sponsorships. A link to the virtual application process and detailed guidance may be found on our website.

All applicants must now submit sponsorship applications on the new online platform in order to apply for funding through our sponsorships program. Applicants must register on the HRVG Platform using their email addresses. Please use the email of the person who will be the day-to-day contact for the sponsorship if awarded (Signatory). Once you have registered for an account, you will have access to the National Heritage Area’s sponsorship application. All information will be filled out online, and you may save your work and return later to continue the application. There is no deadline for submitting a sponsorship application.

Updated guidelines, including detailed instructions on registering for an account, and a revised budget form are available here: https://www.hudsonrivervalley.com/sponsorships.

If you have any questions regarding the application process, please email the National Heritage Area.

Attention Heritage Sites: Order Our Map Guides Today!

Our six themed map guides are a great resource for your visitors to take after they leave your site. Our main brochure (shown in the picture) features all of the designated sites of the Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area and has been newly revised and updated this past year. Our other guides are “Dutch & Native American Culture in the Hudson Valley”, “Architectural Traditions”, “Landscapes & Gardens”, “Art, Artists, & the Hudson River School”, and “The American Revolution”.

Guides can be ordered in any amount; cases typically contain 500-600 of each guide. Order here or email Dan Jeanson at daniel.jeanson@hudsongreenway.ny.gov.

Breakneck Ridge Trailhead Closed

In an effort to relocate the trailhead farther up the ridge and repair eroding trail surfaces, the Breakneck Ridge trailhead in Dutchess County is closed from March 1, 2023, to July 1, 2023.

Hikers who would like to access the viewsheds at the peaks of Breakneck Ridge must take alternate routes, including Wilkinson to the Nimham Trail, or the Cornish/Brook/Undercliff Bypass/Undercliff trails from the Washburn parking lot. Hikers are encouraged to take the Metro-North Railroad train to the trail. Read the full press release.

New George Washington Bridge Path Connects to Palisades Interstate Park

In February, a new path opened on the north side of the George Washington Bridge, creating a grand gateway to the Palisades for pedestrians and bicyclists coming from NYC. The North Walk offers direct access to the NJ section of the park and the Long Path, a 358-mile trail stretching to Albany and crossing through 9 of the 21 Palisades parks. 

The Bridge’s new path features gently sloping ramps that are fully ADA-accessible, stunning views of the cliffs from new viewing platforms, and wider approaches to remove hazardous pinch points for cyclists. 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 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.

Important Reminders

• Tune Into the Hudson River Estuary Program's Conservation Subdivisions Webinar on March 16, 2023. Register now.

Submit Comments on the Hudson River Access Plan

Scenic Hudson is seeking to help Hudson River communities increase shoreline access and has created a new Hudson River Action Plan. They have established a river access website with an easy-to-use mapper designed to let you indicate where you are using the Hudson River shoreline, what you like to do there, and where you'd like future river access. Please share your community's river access goals by providing input through the interactive mapper. The comment period ends on March 15. Read more.

Upcoming Events

Introduction to Hudson Valley Habitats and Biodiversity Conservation (WEBINAR)

March 2: This webinar will present key characteristics of major Hudson Valley habitats, their importance to common and imperiled species, current threats, and more. Find out more.

Music for a Winter’s Afternoon Concert with Flutestrings!, Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site, Yonkers, NY

March 5: Enjoy music featuring Renaissance, Baroque, and Opera arias from Mozart, Bizet, Puccini, and Verdi as well as music from Scott Joplin and more. Learn more.

Hudson River Valley Greenway Board Meeting, Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum, Hyde Park, NY

March 8: Joint board meeting of the Hudson River Valley Greenway Communities Council and Greenway Conservancy for the Hudson River Valley. More details.

Breakfast Webinar: Hudson River Greenway Grant Program (WEBINAR)

March 9: This webinar will discuss funding opportunities offered by the Hudson River Valley Greenway Learn more.

Sugarfest, Westmoreland Sanctuary, Mount Kisco, NY

March 11: This zero-waste event will teach participants about the origins of maple syrup production, traditional harvesting techniques, and how tree anatomy and climate change affect sap quality. Find out more.

Maple Celebration 2023, Taconic Outdoor Education Center, Cold Spring, NY

March 11: Enjoy some of the Hudson Valley's best syrup on fresh pancakes in a woodsy setting! More details.

Space Rocks: Asteroids, Comets, and Meteorites, Rockefeller State Park Preserve, Pleasantville, NY

March 12: Join environmental educator, Kim Fendrich, for a presentation on asteroids, comets, and meteorites, and learn about the stories they tell us. More info.

Women's History Month Equal Pay Day Event, NYS Museum, Albany, NY

March 14: Join a presentation highlighting New York State's work to advance women's equality in the workforce through law and policy. Learn more.

We are Still Here: A Contemporary Indigenous Perspective, Olana State Historic Site, Hudson, NY

March 15: Learn about contemporary issues in Indian Country including the missing and murdered indigenous women epidemic, the fight to protect our Earth, and the continued fight for sovereignty. Find out more.

Conservation Subdivisions (WEBINAR)

March 16: This webinar will introduce conservation subdivisions and discuss best practices to achieve meaningful conservation outcomes, drawing on model laws and case studies from the Hudson Valley. Read more.

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

March 17: The Mid-Hudson Astronomical Association hosts a monthly stargazing party in the West Beach parking lot. Learn more.

Weir Tour, Old Croton Aqueduct State Historic Park, Ossining, NY

March 18: After a brief walk, descend into the Weir in Ossining and explore the original 1842 brick water tunnel and learn its history. More info.

The General's Lady, Washington's Headquarters State Historic Site, Newburgh, NY

March 19: This event pays tribute to both the impact of noteworthy historical women and to contemporary women making a difference in the field of history and preservation in the Hudson Valley. Read more.

A Life in Service, Staatsburgh State Historic Site, Staatsburgh, NY

March 25: The tour will include visiting the unrestored servants' hall. Even in its unrestored state, the hall is a striking artifact of servant life and work, featuring the servants' dining room, the footmen's bedrooms, and the tiled kitchen with its massive coal range. More details.

Hike: An Orchard, a Cliff Edge View and an Echo, Minnewaska State Park Preserve, Kerhonkson, NY

March 26: Go for an early spring hike through a historic orchard that once served the grand hotels found at Minnewaska. More info.

DEC Urban and Community Forestry Grants Information Session (WEBINAR)

March 29: The information session will cover changes since the last round of the grant, the disadvantaged community criteria, partnerships, application requirements, and have time dedicated for questions for prospective grant applicants. Find out more.

Heritage Spotlight: Oakwood Cemetery, Rensselaer County

Oakwood Cemetery in the City of Troy is a place to honor loved ones, contemplate nature, explore art and architecture, and discover the rich history of Upstate New York. Founded in 1848, Oakwood is one of America's largest rural cemeteries, commanding a spectacular panoramic view of the Hudson Valley. Oakwood is the final resting place of many of the area's most prominent citizens, including "Uncle Sam" Wilson, progenitor of the famous Uncle Sam icon. Non-sectarian and open to all, Oakwood offers burial spaces, family plots, and affordable cremation services to meet the needs of today's families. Oakwood's picturesque landscape and stately monuments make it a popular spot for runners, dog- walkers, families, nature lovers, and history buffs. More info.

Project Spotlight: Town of Dover Comprehensive Plan Update

The Town of Dover in Dutchess County received a Greenway Community Planning Grant to complete a comprehensive plan update. When the Town of Dover applied for this grant they had one of the oldest comprehensive plans in the county dating back to 1993. Much of the Town consists of undeveloped open space, such as camps, farms, and hunting clubs, but as the growing population and development in the Town increase the Town wants to preserve its natural beauty and open space. The updated plan also specifically addresses climate smart resiliency by identifying natural hazards to prepare and respond to them appropriately. Read the full plan.

Stop Junk Mail

Contact solicitors and advertisers to get off mailing lists. 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 HRVG's Online Grants Platform by May 5, 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 May 5, 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 May 5, 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.

DHPSNY Planning & Assessment Services

Documentary Heritage and Preservation Services for New York (DHPSNY) offers Planning & Assessment Services in four major areas. These services are designed to support New York organizations in improving and advancing program efforts while forming strategies for future growth and development. DHPSNY’s Planning & Assessment Services consist of Archival Needs Assessments, Preservation Surveys, Condition Surveys, and Strategic Planning Assistance. In each instance, the services aim to improve adherence to best practices and are tailored to an organization’s unique circumstances. Deadline: March 10, 2023. Learn more.

Preserve NY Grants

Preserve New York grants provide support to eligible nonprofit organizations and municipalities in NYS for projects that identify, document, and preserve New York’s cultural and historic buildings, structures, and landscapes. Preserve New York helps fund historic structure reports, condition reports, cultural landscape reports, and cultural resource surveys. This program funds consulting reports only and will not fund capital repairs or construction costs, architectural plans and specifications, schematic designs, or construction documents. Deadline: March 31, 2023. Find out 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.

2023 Biodiversity Conservation Grant: Enhancing Pollinator Habitats

Habitat enhancement projects should directly support the creation, restoration, remediation, improvement, and/or protection of habitats for important pollinator species such as butterflies, bees, bats, and more. The project should impact pollinators on at least 150 acres of public land. The land does not need to be contiguous. Additionally, projects should incorporate community outreach and engagement activities designed to educate and empower the public to help enhance pollinator habitats. Deadline: May 10, 2023. More details.

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.