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New round of grants for
park & trail groups
Aim is to boost organizational capacity
Parks & Trails New York is offering a new round of Capacity Building Grants for park and trail groups in New York State. The grants, of up to $3,000, will strengthen not-for-profit organizations that are working to build and protect parks and trails in communities across the state --- helping to not only provide places for close-to-home, healthy physical activity but also generate additional tourist dollars to strengthen local economies. Funds can be used to assist with activities associated with organizational start-up and development, training, communications, and volunteer recruitment and management.
For more information email or call 518-434-1583.
Read what this year's grantees are accomplishing. |
Time running out to apply for trail help!
Deadline October 2
If you want help developing a new multi-use trail or increasing usage on an existing trail, there are just a few days left to apply. Parks & Trails New York will choose five communities to receive help with technical issues, planning, public outreach, grant writing, fundraising, programming, organizational development and other activities critical to the long-term success of trail projects.
Find applications and more information on the Parks & Trails New York website or by emailing or calling 518-434-1583. Applications accepted until October 2, 2009.
Potential applicants are encouraged to contact Parks & Trails New York to discuss their projects before the submission deadline. Healthy Trails, Healthy People is supported in part by a grant from the Healthy Heart Program of the New York State Department of Health. |
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Just say no to gas exploration in Allegany State Park
 In recent months interest has increased for conducting exploratory drilling for natural gas in Allegany State Park - an activity that, if allowed, is sure to cause irreparable damage to the park's fragile ecosystem. While the notion of drilling for gas or oil in Allegany may seem impossible, it is not all that far-fetched. When the state purchased the land that is now Allegany State Park the subsurface mineral rights were severed, leading to a situation where the state owns the surface rights, but 40% to 50% of the subsurface rights are held by private interests.
Parks & Trails New York opposes drilling in Allegany, or any other state park, and we have met with State Parks and DEC to urge them to use all available regulatory controls to protect the park from mineral exploration. We're also working with legislators to prohibit drilling for gas or oil in any state park.
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Party for the Parks
Please join us!
PTNY to honor Diana Taylor November 9 in NYC
PTNY will be honoring Diana Taylor, Chair of the Hudson River Park Trust, at our award reception in NYC November 9.
Ms. Taylor is an eloquent advocate for New York's public open spaces. As Chair of the Hudson River Park Trust, she is overseeing the construction of the largest Manhattan open space project since the completion of Central Park.
Please join us to celebrate Diana Taylor, Hudson River Park, and New York's parks and trails.
For more information or to purchase tickets, email Martha Gershun, PTNY's Director of Development, or call 518-434-1583, ext. 205. |
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You did it! Senate anti-bike/ped amendments defeated
Thank you! You responded swiftly and strongly to our urgent, last-minute request. Your calls and emails helped defeat two amendments to the FY10 Federal Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill that would have eliminated the majority of Transportation Enhancement Program funding that has benefited so many communities during the past 20 years. We need to continue to be vigilant. Be sure to thank Senators Schumer and Gillibrand for their NO votes and invite them to your trail so they can see first-hand how it contributes to the quality of life and economic vitality of your community.
With health care legislation dominating the agenda in Washington, it is still unclear whether Congress will vote on a new transportation bill or opt to extend the existing legislation by 18 months.
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Congress considers more LWCF funding for parks, trails, open space
The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources is crafting legislation that would increase funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) to the statutory maximum of $900 million - with half of that being allocated to the 50 states. The total stateside LWCF appropriation in 2009 was just $27 million, with a little more than $1.3 million coming to New York State. The stateside LWCF supports myriad environmental projects, including; state and local parks, trails, historic sites and open space preservation, and if fully funded, New York State will see a significant increase in much-needed funding for these projects.
We'll keep you posted on the progress of the bill and will be asking for your help in urging lawmakers to move this legislation. |
Support our Green Partners -
Chazen Companies
 The multi-disciplinary Chazen Companies have over 100 professionals with technical expertise in engineering, surveying, environmental, planning, and landscape architecture throughout four offices in Poughkeepsie, Troy, Glens Falls, and Waterford, Connecticut.
"The Chazen Companies is proud to be part of the Green Partners Program. With many disciplines under one roof, we're very conscious of how good planning and maintenance can work together to create vibrant community spaces," says Mark Kastner, P.E., Chazen Companies President. "Parks & Trails New York provides the advocacy and assistance our communities need to build healthy, sustainable open spaces we can all enjoy." |
Brooklyn Greenway segment
open for use
When complete, the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway will be a 14-mile path for recreation and transportation linking four regional parks and numerous other open spaces and communities along the Hudson and East Rivers between Sunset Park and Greenpoint. The Brooklyn Greenway Initiative, the organization that is guiding the project, recently announced that a half-mile of the Columbia Street segment is now open. The greenway will provide a human-scale connection among communities now divided by highways and other structures. It also will improve waterfront access, enable healthier lifestyles, and broaden transportation options. |
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Parks & Trails New York is a member of Earth Share of New York, an alliance of leading nonprofit environmental organizations. For more information about workplace giving to Parks & Trails New York and Earth Share, check out www.earthshareny.org | |
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Support parks and trails by donating or
joining today! |
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New on-line guide to multi-use trails in NYS Visit TrailFinder!
Just in time for fall foliage, Parks & Trails New York has launched a new on-line guide to multi-use trails in New York State. TrailFinder includes 110 trails, totaling more than 1200 miles. Check it out!
PTNY grants make big difference to park and trail groups
In only six months great things are happening in the eight organizations awarded Parks & Trails New York capacity building grants. Each group has used the funding to bolster a variety of outreach efforts - new websites, public programs, community forums, membership campaign, and marketing plans - designed to deliver their message to a wider audience and enlist members and volunteers to support them in their work. Read more. |
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Federal stimulus supports youth at work in state parks
Although not eligible for federal stimulus funds for capital improvements, the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation has been able to access more than $3.3 million in stimulus funds through the state Department of Labor to establish a State Parks Conservation Corps. The Corps is comprised of 200 young people who will receive training in a variety of green jobs and work at 25 state parks and historic sites. The program is a partnership with the Student Conservation Association, an organization with a long history of operating youth conservation corps and green collar training programs.
State parks website lookin' good!
Check out the upgraded state parks website, with lots of new content about what visitors can expect to find at parks and historic sites, plus a great new trails section.
A click is all it takes - earn dollars for State Park trails
Organic food manufacturer Cascadian Farms is donating $15,000 to the New York State Park System for trail maintenance and promotion, but you can help raise that amount to a maximum of $25,000 by just visiting the special website and entering a few lines about why you love New York State Park trails. For every entry, Cascadian Farms will donate an additional dollar.
Dutchess County to consider bonding for trail construction
Dutchess County isn't waiting for money to grow on trees for the financing of its ambitious 12-mile trail project. Funding has already come from federal grants ($5.5 million), state grants ($143,000), and county appropriations totaling $1.4 million. The County Legislature's Public Works and Capital Projects Committee, capitalizing on public excitement over the completion of phases one and two, is discussing a proposal to sell $1.5 million worth of bonds to finance phase three. The Legislature will vote on the bond issue later this month.
FHWA's Research Program comment period open
FHWA's STEP (Surface Transportation Environment and Planning) Cooperative Research Program is again soliciting brief, targeted comments and suggestions for potential research topics to help them determine how to spend their research dollars. There are a variety of STEP Emphasis Areas, including Bicycle/Pedestrian & Health. Comments will be accepted until December 3, 2009.
Act to ensure bike/ped access to Tappan Zee
The Westchester-Putnam Bike Walk Alliance is conducting an online petition drive, which they will pass on to Michael Anderson of New York State DOT to build support to ensure the new Tappan Zee Bridge includes bike/walking paths on both the north and south sides of the new bridge. Please write a comment about where you live and why you would like to see pathways on both sides of the bridge.
Cheers to Central Hudson for support of Walkway Over the Hudson
Central Hudson Gas and Electric has made two generous donations of land that will significantly improve access to both the east and west sides of the Walkway Over the Hudson pedestrian bridge.
PTNY Promotes Trails to Conservation Commissions
Read about PTNY's vision for a link between local conservation and trail development in "Furthering Trails and Conservation" in the New York State Association of Conservation Commissions (NYACC) Summer 2009 Newsletter.
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Feedback? Story ideas? E-mail e-news@ptny.org
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