The Friends of Grant Cottage are in the beginning stages of developing a Site Master Plan for the Ulysses S. Grant Cottage State Historic Site & National Historic Landmark it’s hoped will provide a roadmap for a comprehensive set of “improvements to enhance visitor engagement, accessibility and safety, and circulation while expanding the site infrastructure for increased visitation and grand events,” according to an email sent to supporters. [Read more…] about Grant Cottage Master Plan Meeting Set for May 23rd
State Parks
Schodack Island Channel Restoration Planned
Waterways at Schodack Island State Park, which sits off the eastern shore of the Hudson River just south of Albany, that were filled in a century ago will be restored under a project coordinated by the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks) and Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to re-create 2.8 acres of natural habitat and improve the health of the Hudson River. [Read more…] about Schodack Island Channel Restoration Planned
Clermont State Historic Site Master Plan Input Sought
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) has developed a Draft Master Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft MP/DEIS) for the Clermont State Historic Site, located in the Town of Clermont, in Columbia County. OPRHP will be holding two online public meetings to discuss proposed plan elements. [Read more…] about Clermont State Historic Site Master Plan Input Sought
Bryan Erwin Named Chair of State Council of Parks
New York State Governor Kathy Hochul designated Bryan Erwin of Mattituck, Long Island, the new chair of the State Council of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. The Council of Parks consists of the chairs of the eleven regional park commissions, the Commissioner of State Parks, the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation, and the Chair of the State Board of Historic Preservation. [Read more…] about Bryan Erwin Named Chair of State Council of Parks
Report: National Forests Threatened By Poor Wildlife Management, Invasives
Most forests in eastern United States national parks are at risk due to browsing by overabundant white-tailed deer and crowding by invasive plants, according to a National Park Service (NPS) study published in the journal Ecological Applications. [Read more…] about Report: National Forests Threatened By Poor Wildlife Management, Invasives
State Campground Reservation Changes
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced changes to reservations at DEC campgrounds for the upcoming season, including new same-day reservations to help add flexibility and ease to last-minute bookings. [Read more…] about State Campground Reservation Changes
NYS Nominates 13 Places for State, National Registers of Historic Places
The New York State Board for Historic Preservation has recommended adding 13 properties to the State and National Registers of Historic Places and submitting one request to the Columbia Turnpike East Toll House to the National Park Service.
The nominations include a key site associated with Rochester‘s LGBTQ+ history, a historic synagogue in Manhattan‘s Upper West Side, a public park in Ithaca, a church connected to Yonkers’s civil rights history, a re-built Lustron House in Erie County, the Oneida County History Center, and more. [Read more…] about NYS Nominates 13 Places for State, National Registers of Historic Places
Blauvelt State Park: Rockland County’s Storied Martial History
Blauvelt State Park, in the Rockland County town of Blauvelt has a storied history. At first, it was a facility where members of the New York State National Guard (and the Naval Militia) could practice shooting. It was first used in October 1910, though still under construction at the time. Later on, the site would be called Camp Bluefields (Blauvelt means “blue field” in Dutch), but at this time the facility was known as the Blauvelt Rifle Range. [Read more…] about Blauvelt State Park: Rockland County’s Storied Martial History
Seven New Locations to New York State Birding Trail
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced the addition of seven new locations to the New York State Birding Trail. [Read more…] about Seven New Locations to New York State Birding Trail
Washington Project 2023 Student Videos
The Washington Project 2023, a special video presentation by students from the Hudson Valley, is airing on YouTube. The program, consisting of individually created theatrical and musical performance pieces, will feature interpretations of historic events that took place while General George Washington was headquartered in Newburgh. These pieces, written by the students themselves, allows them to interpret history in a contemporary and meaningful way. [Read more…] about Washington Project 2023 Student Videos