New York State Parks, Historic Sites, and public lands submitted grant proposals a few months ago in the hopes of receiving much-needed funds to help them continue their missions of keeping New York history alive, being stewards of our public lands, or increasing services for visitors to our State Parks.

Today, the New York State and Parks & Trails New York announced $450,000 in state grants to 21 organizations throughout the state including 4 in the Hudson Valley. While private funds will also add to these projects, this grant money is a big help.

The Basha Kill Area Association received  over $7,000 to help with professional reformatting and printing of the book, "A Birding Guide to Sullivan County New York." This will help them to continue to educate visitors about the 250+ bird species who call this wetland home.

The Friends of Mills Mansion received $48,000 to be able to replace the nearly 100-year-old historic draperies in the formal dining room in Staatsburgh. They will now be able to purchase historically-accurate, custom-made fabrics and trims as well as hardware for the project.

Other grant recipients are the Friends of The Old Croton Aqueduct with over $27,000 to cover the cost of a coordinator to act as docent at the Keeper's House Education and Visitor Center, and the Little Stony Point Citizens Association, Inc. received $39,946 to help pay for a solar installation at the Volunteer Center which will enable more activities to be held there.

Congratulations to all of these grant recipients. Plan a visit to these sites this summer to see how these projects are coming along.

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