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 and Trail Grant Applications are Due Through Our Online Grants Platform by January 26, 2024. More Details.

• HRVG's Board Meeting is on December 6, 2023, at the Henry A. Wallace Center in Hyde Park and by Zoom. Email hrvg@hudsongreenway.ny.gov to RSVP.

• Does Your Organization Own or Manage Land Along the Hudson River? Designate it as a Water Trail Site for the Hudson River Greenway Water Trail. Learn more.

Human Rights Day Expo to Take Place at Roosevelt Sites

To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site and Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site, along with the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum, will host a Human Rights Day Expo on December 10, 2023. Events will begin at 10 a.m. at the Henry A. Wallace Center in Hyde Park. For more information, including the full program of events, please visit go.nps.gov/humanrightsexpo.

Commemoration events will include talks on human rights-related topics, animated films commissioned by the library, a musical concert, and an expo highlighting a diverse group of local organizations supporting all facets of human rights. The Beatrix Farrand Garden will host a contemplative walk during the day, where people can explore the garden through the words of Eleanor Roosevelt and the UDHR. The FDR Presidential Library and Museum will have a temporary exhibit of Eleanor Roosevelt’s copy of the UDHR through December.

The Dutchess County community came together to plan and host this event. The planning team included the National Park Service, the National Archives and Records Administration, the Dutchess County Human Rights Commission, the Beatrix Farrand Garden Association, the Eleanor Roosevelt Center at Val-Kill, the Hudson River Valley Greenway, the Roosevelt Institute, and the United Nations Association, Mid-Hudson Valley Chapter. Read more.

Now Available: Empire Passes for 2024!

Ready to unlock all-season adventure in 2024? The Empire Pass is your key! Now available online for 2024, multi-season, and Lifetime, your Empire Pass waives the vehicle use fee for day use entry at select New York State parks. Perfect for you or a gift for others.

The Empire Pass is valid any day from date of purchase through December 31 for the year purchased. The Pass is also shareable within a household. Present your Empire Pass at most facilities operated by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation for unlimited vehicle access. Shop now.

Governor Hochul Announces More Than $28 Million for Recreation and Historic Preservation Projects

On November 15th, Governor Kathy Hochul announced new awards through Round XIII of the Regional Economic Development Council Initiative with $26.6 million awarded through the state-funded Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) to support 72 projects and $2.4 million from the federally funded Recreational Trails Program (RTP) for 15 projects.

The grants from EPF support 72 projects including park improvements, heritage area enhancements, and historic preservation projects. The grants for RTP support 15 projects. The RTP is an assistance program with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration. In New York State, both the EPF and RTP are administered by the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

The EPF Grant Program for Parks, Heritage, and Preservation supports matching grants for the acquisition, planning, development, and improvement of parks, historic properties, and heritage areas located within New York. Funds are awarded to municipalities or not-for-profits with an ownership interest.

The RTP Grant Program supports matching grants to develop and maintain recreational trails and trail-related facilities for both motorized and non-motorized trail uses. Funds are awarded to municipalities or not-for-profits with an ownership interest. Read the full story.

Hudson River Valley Greenway is Hiring an Executive Director



The Hudson River Valley Greenway is seeking to fill the position of Executive Director to replace Scott Keller, who will be retiring in March of 2024. The Executive Director serves as the lead executive for the staff of the Hudson River Valley Greenway Communities Council and the Greenway Conservancy for the Hudson River Valley, Inc., and reports to the chairs of each board. This individual also serves as Director of the Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area. The Heritage Area Director serves the governing board as the administrator and spokesperson for all programs and activities undertaken on its behalf and reports to the co-chairs of the Heritage Area board. There is no formal deadline for applications, however, priority will be given to applications received by January 5, 2024. Learn more.

Hudson River Valley Greenway's Grant Applications Are Now Hosted on the Greenway's Online Grants Platform

Grant and sponsorship applications for all Hudson River Valley Greenway and Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage programs, including Community/Compact Planning, Conservancy Trail, and Heritage Sponsorships 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 funding applications 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 address. 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

• Check Out the Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda 2021-2025.



Managing Migratory Fish in the Hudson River Estuary

Estuaries are among the most productive of Earth's ecosystems, and the Hudson River estuary is no exception. The Hudson's signature migratory and resident species—Atlantic sturgeon, river herring, striped bass, blue crab, and shortnose sturgeon—depend on rare and important tidal habitats for spawning, feeding, and wintering. The Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda 2021-2025 establishes specific measures to conserve, protect, and restore these signature species and their valuable habitat.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's Hudson River Marine Fisheries staff has been managing the migratory and resident fishes of the estuary since the 1980s through numerous long-term monitoring surveys. Long-term data are extremely valuable for documenting population trends over time, as they can reveal patterns in abundance not evident from single-survey events or short-term studies. Migratory species are managed in collaboration with other coastal states through the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC). The status of each major species has been very dynamic, influenced by local and coastal conditions. Read more.

Upcoming Events

Time Capsule Exhibition Reception, Albany Institute of History & Art, Albany, NY

December 4: Join an opening reception celebrating the new exhibition, "The Time Capsule: What We Found Under Philip Schuyler." More info.

Hudson River Valley Greenway Board Meeting, Henry A. Wallace Center, Hyde Park, NY

December 6: The joint board meeting for HRVG will begin with optional networking at 9:30 AM and the official meeting will begin at 10 AM. RSVP.

Lecture: Gingerbread – A Short and Sweet History, Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site, Yonkers, NY

December 6: In honor of St. Nicholas Day, food historian Niel DeMarino traces the history of gingerbread from its earliest examples to the present. Read more.

ROCA Affordable Art & Pottery Bazaar, Rockland Center for the Arts, West Nyack, NY

December 7-22: Just in time for holiday gift giving, this popular and well-attended sale of regional artists and artisans and their wares has returned! Learn more.

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

December 8: The Mid-Hudson Astronomical Association hosts a monthly stargazing party in the West Beach parking lot. More details.

Christmas with the Ellisons, New Windsor Cantonment State Historic Site, New Windsor, NY

December 9: Visit this historic house decorated for the season in the 18th-century manner. More info.

Warm Up at the Washington's, Washington's Headquarters State Historic Site, Newburgh, NY

December 9: Walk through the seasonally decorated rooms where George and Martha Washington spent the holidays of 1782, the last winter of the Revolutionary War. Find out more.

Saturday Studio, Dia Beacon, Beacon, NY

December 9: Join a practicing artist for a workshop on art-making, material experimentation, and play. Learn more.

Human Rights Day Expo, Henry A. Wallace Center, Hyde Park, NY

December 10: This commemoration event will include talks on human rights-related topics, animated films commissioned by the library, a musical concert, an expo highlighting a diverse group of local organizations supporting all facets of human rights, and more. Read more.

Mindfulness Monday, Five Rivers Environmental Education Center, Delmar, NY

December 11: Engage with nature, experiencing it through all your senses during a guided walk inspired by the Japanese practice of Forest Bathing. More info.

Hybrid Lecture on Lt. Lemuel Snow: Patriot and Pioneer, Putnam History Museum, Cold Spring, NY

December 13: Learn about Lt. Lemuel Snow who served eight years in the Revolutionary War where he was a witness to the execution of Andre, made a Freemason at West Point, a member of the Society of the Cincinnati, and was at Verplanck’s Point with his regiment to greet Rochambeau and with Washington. More details.

Sunset Sensations, Locust Grove Estate, Poughkeepsie, NY

December 14: Start the evening with an enchanting walk through a holiday-festooned almost 200-year-old Mansion, enjoy delicious culinary samples paired with three fine tastes of wine, and a wine presentation by Paul Brady Wine. Find out more.

Evening Hours at the Mansion, Staatsburgh State Historic Site, Statsburgh, NY

December 15: Stroll through two floors of the mansion at their own pace and enjoy live music among the festive decorations. Read more.

Beary Merry Holiday, Bear Mountain Trailside Museum and Zoo, Bear Mountain, NY

December 16: Come to the Bear Den to make snacks for the black bears, celebrate the holiday season, and have fun at the ice rink, merry-go-round, and hiking trails! Learn more.

Winter Solstice Celebration, Opus 40, Saugerties, NY

December 16: Join a special celebration with music, a lantern walk, and star-gazing. Find out more.

Nature on the Move, Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park, Gansevoort, NY

December 18: Enjoy nature with others looking to get outside on a snowshoe walk. More info.

Winter Solstice Walk, Normans Kill West Preserve, Bethlehem, NY

December 21: Join MHLC for a walk along the trails at the preserve and enjoy the many improvements made by their hard-working trail team this year. Read more.

Tuesday Trek: Mossy Glen Meander, Minnewaska State Park Preserve, Kerhonkson, NY

December 26: This three-and-a-half-mile hike will follow along the edges of the Peter's Kill, a gently gurgling stream that runs through evergreen hemlock forests and rhododendron stands along the Mossy Glen Footpath. Read more.

First Day Hike-Chasing Frozen Waterfalls, Thacher State Park, Voorheesville, NY

January 1: Explore one of Thacher Park's most popular trails past frozen waterfalls, and through pine and hemlock forests on a winter wonderland hike! More details.

Heritage Spotlight: Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site, Dutchess County

The lifelong home of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, America’s 32nd President. Purchased by Roosevelt’s father in 1867, the home was a large but simple Italianate farmhouse. By 1915, Franklin and his mother, Sara, had completed extensive renovations that included the stucco and fieldstone exterior, the addition of two large wings, and a columned portico. Interior decorations reflect the lifestyle favored by this “old money” family. Inherited by FDR upon his mother’s death in 1941, the house and much of the estate were transferred to the federal government in 1945 at the President’s request. Its interior remains as it was during Roosevelt’s lifetime. The grounds feature flower gardens, outbuildings, and miles of walking trails. The Rose Garden contains the graves of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt. Learn more.

Project Spotlight: Philipstown Connector Trail Feasibility Study

The Philipstown Trails Committee in Putnam County received a Conservancy Trails Grant to create a feasibility study of the proposed Philipstown Connector Trail. The connector trail would be a multi-use trail that would connect the Village of Cold Spring to the Garrison train station. This project was the next phase of a resident-led initiative to facilitate non-motorized transportation in Philipstown, NY. In 2018, Philipstown held community brainstorming meetings to determine the types of biking and walking trails community members envisioned. The clear priority community members articulated was for safe, off-road, multi-use trails that connect important community locations, such as the train station. The newly proposed Greenway Trail would be approximately five miles and will also connect with the Empire State Trail via the Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail and Beacon Line. Learn more.

Clean Your Toilet a Better Way

Pour one cup of borax and 1/4 cup of vinegar into the bowl. Let it sit overnight before scrubbing. Two denture cleaner tablets left in the bowl overnight will help remove mineral deposits. 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. The remaining deadlines for applications this year are due on HRVG's Online Grants Platform by January 26, 2024. More details.

Hudson River Valley Greenway Community Grant Program

Matching grants are available for Greenway Communities and Greenway Compact Communities. The remaining deadlines for applications this year are due on HRVG's Online Grants Platform by January 26, 2024. More info.

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.

Legacy Trails Grant Program

This program is funded up to $1.5M per year for 5 years through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and supports partner trail projects that further the Legacy Roads and Trails criteria on National Forest System trails throughout the nine Forest Service Regions. The goal of the program is to support projects that restore, protect, and maintain watersheds in our national forests and grasslands. American Trails is administering this grant program, and is soliciting applications for funding, with awards up to $100K per project. Deadline: December 1, 2023. Read more.

New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services: FY2023 Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities and Flood Mitigation Assistance Programs

FEMA provides federal funds for the Building Resilient Infrastructures and Communities (BRIC) grant program to states, local communities, tribes, and territories for hazard mitigation activities. BRIC is a FEMA annual hazard mitigation program. FEMA will distribute up to $800 million in Flood Mitigation Assistance grant funding to help reduce or eliminate the risk of repetitive flood damage to buildings and structures insured under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and within NFIP-participating communities. Deadline: December 15, 2023. More info.

NOAA: Coastal Habitat Restoration and Resilience Grants for Tribes and Underserved Communities

$45 million in funding is available for projects that will advance the coastal habitat restoration and climate resilience priorities of tribes and underserved communities under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act. Through this funding, NOAA will help support community-driven habitat restoration and build the capacity of tribes and underserved communities to more fully participate in restoration activities. Deadline: December 19, 2023. Find out more.

New York State Conservation Partnership Program

The New York State Conservation Partnership Program offers competitive matching grants to qualified New York land trusts to advance land conservation, economic development, farmland protection, community conservation, recreation, and tourism. Deadline: December 22, 2023. Learn more.

Environmentally Sustainable Transportation Projects

Projects will be selected through a competitive solicitation process and rated based on established criteria that include public benefit, air quality improvements, cost-effectiveness, and partnerships. Projects must be related to the surface transportation system and provide full access to the public. The TAP-CMAQ-CRP project awards will amount to no less than $500,000 and no more than $5 million for any single project. NYSDOT will provide up to 80 percent of the total eligible project costs with a minimum 20 percent match provided by the project sponsor. Eligible project costs may include planning, design/engineering services, right-of-way acquisition, construction, and construction inspection. Deadline: January 9, 2024. More info.

Transportation Alternatives Program

The Transportation Alternatives Program provides funding for a variety of generally smaller-scale transportation projects such as pedestrian and bicycle facilities; construction of turnouts, overlooks, and viewing areas; community improvements such as historic preservation and vegetation management; environmental mitigation related to stormwater and habitat connectivity; recreational trails; safe routes to school projects; and vulnerable road user safety assessments. Deadline: January 9, 2024. More details.

Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program

The Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) Program provides funds to States for transportation projects designed to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality, particularly in areas of the country that do not attain national air quality standards. Deadline: January 9, 2024. Find out more.

New York State Nonprofit Infrastructure Capital Investment Program

$60 million in capital grant funding will be available to nonprofit human services organizations through the NICIP to support the delivery of critical services to New Yorkers. Eligible nonprofit organizations that provide direct programs and services to New Yorkers may receive grants ranging from $50,000 to $500,000 for the completion of small- and large-scale construction projects. Deadline: January 12, 2024. Read more.

Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections

This program helps cultural institutions meet the complex challenge of preserving large and diverse holdings of humanities materials for future generations by supporting environmentally sustainable preventive care measures that mitigate deterioration, prolong the useful life of collections, reduce energy consumption, and strengthen institutions’ ability to anticipate and respond to disasters. Deadline: January 12, 2024. More info.

Trails Capacity Grant Program

American Trails administers the Trails Capacity Program and invests in building nationwide trails community capacity by funding trail stewardship training, maintenance, research, and education. This grant program targets funding for small local trail projects that engage the community and connect trail assets to a broader spectrum of users. Deadline: January 15, 2024. More details.

Urban and Community Forestry Program

A total of $12.9 million was made available for urban and community forestry projects through the Inflation Reduction Act funding opportunity. The funding was made available by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service's Urban and Community Forestry Program to increase equitable access to healthy trees and green spaces in urban and community forests to support building a clean energy economy, advance environmental justice, and create economic opportunity. Deadline: January 31, 2024. Learn more.

FY 2024 RAISE Grants Notice of Funding Opportunity

RAISE grants will be awarded on a competitive basis, per statute, for planning or constructing surface transportation infrastructure projects that will improve safety; environmental sustainability; quality of life; mobility and community connectivity; economic competitiveness and opportunity including tourism; state of good repair; partnership and collaboration; and innovation. Deadline: February 28, 2024. Read more.

Candevra Foundation Grant Program

The Candreva Environmental Foundation is a New York state-based organization that provides seed money for local environmental education initiatives and projects that engage young people in environmental service. Awards of up to $500 can be used for materials, printing costs, student and teacher travel, communication costs, and other project-related expenses. Grants are limited to Westchester and Putnam Counties. Deadline: June 1, 2024. Find out more.

Inflation Reduction Act Community Change Grants Program

The EPA is accepting applications on a rolling basis for $2 billion in Inflation Reduction Act funding available to support community-driven projects that build capacity for communities to tackle environmental and climate justice challenges, strengthen their climate resilience, and advance clean energy. Applications will be accepted until November 21, 2024. Learn more.

The Peter H. Brink Leadership Fund

The Peter H. Brink Leadership Fund helps to build the capacity of existing preservation organizations and encourages collaboration among these organizations by providing grants for mentoring and other peer-to-peer and direct organizational development and learning opportunities. More info.

Trails Count Grant Program

The Trails Count Grant Program is an assistance grant in partnership with Eco Counter and focuses on the quality of mountain bike trail communities by measuring the number of users on trails to assess the impact of trails. The grants support communities that have the interest and political support to develop trail use measurement systems but need additional assistance. More details.

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.