December 2024 E-newsletter: Hudson River Valley Greenway and National Heritage Area

NEWS, EVENTS & GRANTS

December 2024

IMPORTANT REMINDERS

HRVG is Requesting Proposals for Consultation for Strategic Planning. MORE DETAILS >>.

Conservancy Trail Grant and Heritage Development Grant Applications Will be Available on December 16, 2024, and Submissions are Due by January 31, 2025. MORE DETAILS >>.

NEWS

Hudson River Valley Greenway Announces $40,950 in Grants

At its December Board Meeting, the Hudson River Valley Greenway approved two matching Conservancy Trail awards totaling $40,950.

The funded Conservancy Trail Grants include:

$3,450 to the Town of Hurley to Replace Kiosks on the Hurley Rail Trail
$37,500 to the Town of Tuxedo for a Concept Plan for the Ramapo River Riverwalk

The next round of Conservancy Trail Grant and Heritage Development Grant applications are due January 31, 2025. Information and guidelines are available on our website.

OPRHP Releases DGEIS for the Development of the Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail For Public Comment

New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP), released the Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement (DGEIS) for the Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail project’s Master Plan on December 4, 2024, with a site-specific Environmental Impact Statement for the Shoreline Trail section. The public may comment on the DGEIS in writing between December 4, 2024, and February 2, 2025, or at the public hearing on January 14, 2025.

The Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail is a proposed linear park, planned to span 7.5 walkable, bikeable miles between New York’s Village of Cold Spring and the City of Beacon, and built with accessibility and inclusivity in mind. New York's State Environmental Quality Review Act requires that before a project like the Fjord Trail can begin permitting or construction, it must be evaluated for impacts through a thorough environmental review process. LEARN MORE >>.

Explore Westchester Land Trust's New Preserve in Lewisboro

The Westchester Land Trust (WLT) recently opened the new Mill River Preserve in Lewisboro and has invited the public to check it out. Mill River Preserve is accessible and connected by a trail from the neighboring 370-acre Leon Levy Preserve, which is owned by the Town of Lewisboro and protected with a WLT conservation easement. The preserve’s loop trail offers a scenic, family-friendly experience that highlights the area’s many ecological features. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PRESERVE >>.

DCTC Releases Existing Conditions Report for the Proposed Beacon-Hopewell Rail Trail

The Dutchess County Transportation Council (DCTC) recently released an Existing Conditions Report for the Beacon-Hopewell Rail Trail Study! This report describes the existing infrastructure and environmental conditions along the nearly 13-mile stretch of Metro-North Railroad’s Beacon Line that extends from the Hudson River in the City of Beacon to the hamlet of Hopewell Junction in the Town of East Fishkill. It also highlights key design challenges for a potential trail, including road crossings, bridge rehabilitation needs, utility coordination, and environmental constraints. READ THE FULL REPORT >>.

Our Grants and Funding Opportunities

As we enter the new year, the Hudson River Valley Greenway's grant programs are switching to a rounds-based process. Grant applications will be released at the start of a round and must be completed by the closing dates. Incomplete applications from one round will not remain in progress into the next round.

The next round of Conservancy Trail Grants and Heritage Development Grants opens on December 16, 2024, and completed applications are due by January 31, 2025. Applications must be submitted through the HRVG’s online grant portal which can be accessed from our grant webpage.

National Heritage Area Sponsorships

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 within the HRVNHA are eligible to apply. Applications for Summer/Fall 2025 events will be announced in Spring 2025. 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. The application period will open on December 16, 2024, and are due by January 31, 2025. MORE DETAILS >>.

Hudson River Valley 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 application period will open on December 16, 2024, and submissions are due by January 31, 2025. MORE DETAILS >>.

Hudson River Valley Greenway Community Grant Program

Matching grants are available for Greenway Communities and Greenway Compact Communities. The application period will open on March 15, 2025, and submissions are due by May 2, 2025. MORE INFO >>.

UPCOMING EVENTS

BEARY MERRY HOLIDAY

December 21 | Bear Mountain State Park, Bear Mountain, NY | Celebrate the holiday with the bears and watch them unwrap their gift boxes full of delicious treats! REGISTER NOW >>.

MEET THE ANIMALS & NATURE HIKE

December 23 | Westmoreland Sanctuary, Mount Kisco, NY | Join a fun afternoon learning about nature and animals. REGISTER NOW >>.

CHILDREN'S HOLIDAY TEA

December 27 | Mount Gulian, Beacon, NY | Children will learn about the tradition of afternoon tea, when Victorian ladies and their gentlemen met for tea, refreshments, and light conversation. READ MORE >>.

CURE FOR CABIN FEVER

December 27 | Washington's Headquarters State Historic Site, Newburgh, NY | This hike will take you through the forest in the late fall as we explore how local wildlife, and plants prepare for the upcoming winter months. READ MORE >>.

MORNING LIGHT ON THE CLIFF: HIKE THE BEACON HILL AND LAKE MINNEWASKA

December 29 | Minnewaska State Park Preserve, Kerhonkson, NY | Join an Environmental Educator, for an approximately three-mile loop hike on the Beacon Hill Carriage Road, Beacon Hill Footpath, and Lake Minnewaska Carriage Road. FIND OUT MORE >>.

FIRST DAY HIKE

January 1 | Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park, Yorktown Heights, NY | Join Laura Conner, Environmental Educator, for an adventurous, six-mile hike to Gertrude's Nose and back on the same route. MORE DETAILS >>.

FIRST DAY HIKE

Janaury 1 | Moreau Lake State Park, Gansevoort, NY | Visit the Gilded Age mansion at Staatsburgh to create lovely small ornaments—a beautiful item to gift or for your own home. LEARN MORE >>.

TWELFTH NIGHT!

January 4 | Crailo State Historic Site, Rensselaer, NY | Special Twelfth Night festivities will highlight the holiday season as it may have been celebrated by the 17th and 18th century residents of early Groenenbosch! LEARN MORE >>.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR! STORY & CRAFT HOUR FOR KIDS

January 11 | Clermont State Historic Site, Germantown, NY | Join us in our historic Visitor Center for an afternoon of stories, snacks, and crafts focusing on celebrations surrounding both Western New Year and Lunar New Year. MORE DETAILS >>.

NHA Calendar of Events

NYS Parks Events

Banner Photos:

Ten Broeck Mansion, Albany, NY. Credit Philip Scalia Photography

Washington Headquarters's State Historic Site with a view of Hudson Highlands, Newburgh, NY. Credit Call of the Loon Productions

hudsongreenway.ny.gov | hudsonrivervalley.com