New York State Executive Chamber | Governor Eliot Spitzer
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION FUND PROJECTS
Please click on the links below to see the breakdown of each region's EPF funding:
Region Total $1,247,500
The Cuba Friends of Architecture (CFA), a not-for-profit, will continue rehabilitation of the Keller (Palmer) Opera House building. The CFA will use the Opera House to revive live theater and local cultural activities.
The Gowanda's Historic Hollywood Theater is a not-for-profit dedicated to the restoration of the Hollywood Theater in Gowanda's historic business district. This project includes restoration of the Historic Hollywood Theater to include exterior and interior work and ADA compliance.
The Village of Mayville will create a community center in the village park along the shores of Chautauqua Lake. The center will serve as a four season, meeting/recreation and bath house facility as well as a trailhead for the rails to trails access.
Region Total $2,553,527
The Village of Johnson City will preserve the historic Pagoda Pump House and relocate it to CFJ Park where it will be used as an informational building. The Pump House was constructed by Endicott Johnson Corporation in the 1920s and its façade contains memorabilia from the company's Johnson City factories.
The Goodwill Theatre, Inc. will rehabilitate the nationally-registered landmark Goodwill Theatre, a rare example of Endicott Johnson historic vaudeville theater. The Goodwill Theatre will serve as the anchor property of a multi-use performing arts complex and training facility.
The Town of Pitcher will enhance the passive recreational facilities at the Pitcher Springs by renovating a pavilion housing mineral springs, adding parking area, developing safe walkways and creating picnic facilities. The park enhancement will improve underutilized recreational facilities for the community.
The Village of Boonville will expand trails and recreational opportunities by connecting Park Hill and Boonville Youth Athletic Fields, creating a year round facility, while protecting the village's water supply and green space from the threat of future mining opportunities.
The City of Syracuse will complete rehabilitation of a vacant 1913 firehouse currently used as a garage and convert the facility into an environmental education center. The City will also rehabilitate the surrounding Bissell's Woods (Olmsted Grove) with improved plantings and landscaping and restoration of the pedestrian path.
Adapt CNY is committed to revitalization of vacant and underutilized properties in downtown Syracuse and is working to acquire and rehabilitate the Wilson Building in the heart of downtown by developing a mixed-use facility. The project will create residential space within the vacant commercial building.
The Village of Fayetteville will create a public park known as Canal Landing Park on an abandoned brownfield along the historic Limestone Creek.
The Town of Fabius and the Village of DeRuyter, in a collaborative, intermunicipal effort, will improve and increase accessibility to a two-acre swim and beach park on the shores of DeRuyter Lake. Improvements include creation of a formalized parking area, pedestrian walkways, improved drainage system and bathroom facilities.
The Onondaga County Department of Parks and Recreation will make improvements at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo including renovations and improvements to the Outdoor Gibbon Ape Exhibit and the Asian Elephant Exhibit yard. The project is important to the Zoo's continuing effort to provide suitable animal habitats.
The City of Fulton will extend the Lake Neatahwanta Shoreline Recreation Trail by connecting two existing trails to create a 1.8 mile continuous trail with the addition of the 0.4 mile trail link. The Lake Neatahwanta Shoreline Recreation Trail Extension project is promoted by Fulton's Comprehensive Plan and the Lake Neatahwanta Opportunities Plan, which aim to improve the lakeshore for recreation and educational purposes in an environmentally-friendly manner.
Region Total $1,092,950
The Cayuga Museum of History and Art will restore and provide public access to one of the world's first sound studios for sound production.
The Park Church will undertake a roof replacement project and restore and repair masonry walls and chimneys.
The Town will replace unsafe playground equipment with equipment that meets ADA standards and ensures that the park meets National Recreation and Park Association requirements.
The City will upgrade Gulvin Park which serves the lowest income, distressed neighborhood in the heart of the Geneva Empire Zone. Improvements will be made to baseball fields, basketball courts, picnic area, children's play facility and unimproved fishing site.
The Village will enhance and expand waterfront recreational activities on Oak Island by improving handicapped accessibility, constructing a second picnic pavilion and increasing waterfront access while preserving the natural character.
The Village will restore the historic Evergreen Cemetery, located on a hillside overlooking the Susquehanna River.
Region Total $1,580,970
The Town of Batavia will acquire two parcels of land for use as a passive public recreation area. The parcels have been designated for conservation use due to unique natural features such as wooded areas, wetlands, stream and pond.
The Archaeological Conservancy will acquire and preserve two significant archeological sites, Bosley's Mill and Power House. The project will prevent the sites from being destroyed by expansion and development growth.
The Town of Avon will acquire the Avon Opera Block. The building will be renovated and used to house the town hall, office and court functions.
The Village of Pittsford will install sidewalks, crosswalks, lighting, landscaping, benches and public water supply along the Schoen Place section of the Erie Canalway.
The Town of Gates will rehabilitate the Hinchey House, including roof repairs, painting, reconstructing porches, and bringing electrical wiring into safety compliance.
The Town of Chili will undertake park improvements and increase passive recreation opportunities at Baker Park to include trails and pavilions.
The Town of Sweden will make upgrades to the Sweden Town Park to include construction of two multi-purpose outdoor sports fields, new volleyball fields, ice rink, lighting and sidewalk providing increased access to the Erie Canal.
The Genesee Waterways Center project will enhance the Genesee Valley Rower campus with a new boathouse, dock improvements, shower rooms and bath improvements. The project will also provide for improvements at the Lock 32 Kayak Center to include a kayak center building, park and safety improvements, and flatwater kayak docks.
Region Total $2,149,800
The Nassau County Department of Parks, Recreation and Museums will undertake the Stannards Brook Park Improvement project to transform the park into a unique recreational, educational, cultural and environmental facility. The improvements will enhance the Heritage Area Mission and promote the cultural and natural resources of the region.
The Village of Port Washington project is phase II for the recently acquired waterfront properties adjacent to Manhasset Bay to create Bay Walk Park for coastal education, passive recreation, fishing and boating.
The Suffolk County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation will assist with the historic restoration of the 10.2 acre estate grounds at Sagtikos Manor to include the gardens, driveway and cemetery. The project will complement the restoration of the buildings at Sagtikos Manor.
The Bellport-Brookhaven Historical Society owns a complex of eight buildings including a milk house, a fully furnished 19th century home, a blacksmith shop, boat shop and barn museum. The project will enable the Bellport-Brookhaven Historical Society to finish repairs on the Brown Building that served as a hardware store 100 years ago.
The Nature Conservancy, Town of Southampton, Suffolk County, the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are implementing the Peconic Estuary Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan's Critical Lands Protection Strategy by acquiring properties within the Peconic Estuary watershed which have been targeted for preservation based on natural resource values. This project is for the acquisition of the Ettlinger Properties (14.9 acres in three parcels) that are zoned for residential use and will likely be sold to private developers if not protected.
The Town of Riverhead will acquire the Woodhull Property and improve with amenities that will allow for public access to the Peconic River for passive recreation. Acquisition of the property for conservation purposes serves to further implement the adopted Critical Lands Protection Strategy of the Peconic Estuary Program, the Town of Riverhead Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan, and the Long Island North Shore Heritage Area Management Plan.
NIAGARA/WESTERN NEW YORK REGION
Region Total $2,744,329
The Corpus Christi Roman Church Complex is an urban church built by the Franciscan Order (1909) to serve the needs of the Polish immigrant community. This project involves significant exterior restoration of the structure.
The Town of Cheektowaga will install fencing and interpretive signage at the War of 1812 (Garrison Road) Cemetery.
The Graycliff Conservancy, Inc., will restore the grounds and gardens of the Graycliff estate, designed primarily by Frank Lloyd Wright.
The City of Buffalo will undertake a project to rehabilitate the national landmark fireboat, Edward M. Cotter, built in 1900, for use as a floating history center.
The Roycroft Campus Corporation has purchased two buildings on the historic Roycroft Campus in East Aurora, the only authentic Arts & Crafts Campus in the country. This project involves the restoration of the Copper Shop as part of the overall plans to develop educational and interpretive programming at the campus.
The Town of Orchard Park will purchase 38.8 +/- acres of undeveloped land. The project will preserve of 38 acres of wooded lands, including 3 acres of federally designated wetlands, from potential development and provide enhanced recreational and environmental education resources.
The Buffalo Zoo, located within the Western Erie Canal Heritage Corridor, will recreate a historic farm from the mid-1800s with heritage breeds of domestic animals and include an adjacent wetlands/bog and a historic replica of the Erie Canal lock.
The Town of Evans will make improvements for two local parks, Nettlecreek Park and Evans Town Park. The park improvements will provide for the replacement of an unsafe playground structure at Nettlecreek Park and provide handicapped accessibility to the beach side at Evans Town Park.
The Town of Elma will construct an 8 foot wide paved multi-use trail spanning 1,625 linear feet, handicapped accessible fishing pier, large picnic pavilion and ADA compliant playground equipment at Elma Town Park.
The Allen Herschell Company factory building is the only remaining wooden structure in the United States in which hand carved carousels were produced. The company also initiated the concept of ¿Kiddieland¿ in amusements parks and at one time was the world's largest producer of amusement rides. This project involves structural support to key interior spaces of the building to prevent collapse.
The City of Niagara Falls will coordinate the exterior rehabilitation of the 1925 Niagara Falls City Hall.
The Riviera Theatre and Organ Preservation Society will undertake a project to restore and expand the historic Riviera Theatre to make it more accessible, expand theatrical production capacity and undertake necessary building repairs.
Region Total $3,909,575
The City of New York Department of Parks and Recreation will renovate the Crotona Park Nature Center at Crotona Park in the Morrisania section of the Bronx. The Nature Center provides educational programs to schools, after school programs and functions as a museum and information center for the park. Upgrades to the facility include lighting, ventilation and construction of additional space that will allow the nature center to increase its capacity to attract and accommodate more visitors.
The City of New York Department of Parks and Recreation and the Bronx River Alliance have developed plans for the Bronx River Greenway, a linear system of parks along the Bronx River that will provide access to open space and recreation. This project will include construction of an environmentally-friendly River House at Starlight Park, which is part of the greenway, with facilities for boat storage, launching, environmental educational classrooms, multi-purpose space for community events and a comfort station.
The East Midwood Jewish Center, one of the last remaining American multi-use synagogue/community centers architecturally unchanged from the 1920s, will restore features of the sanctuary including stained glass windows, stained glass dome and skylight.
The Prospect Park Alliance restores, develops and operates Prospect Park in partnership with the City of New York. The Prospect Park Alliance will undertake the Southeast Lake Edge Restoration project at Prospect Park to restore eroded shoreline, rebuild the Lake's edges, remove invasive plants, secure the shoreline with plantings and clear the Lake's drainage.
The Sons of the Revolution of the State of New York will undertake a rehabilitation project at the Fraunces Tavern Museum complex, which contains one of the oldest buildings in Manhattan and is the site where George Washington gave a farewell speech to his officers in 1783.
The SS Columbia Project is dedicated to restoring, operating and interpreting the SS Columbia, the oldest surviving excursion steamer in the United States (built in 1902). The project includes ensuring the vessel's preservation by restoring bulkheads, staircases and exterior features.
This project involves the restoration of the dome and support structure at St. Bartholomew's Church, constructed in 1918.
The Greater Jamaica Development Corporation will undertake a project to revitalize the Prospect Cemetery, which contains approximately 3,000 gravestones and markers and is the oldest family burial site in Queens. The Greater Jamaica Development Corporation has partnered with the City of New York Department of Parks and Recreation, the New York Landmarks Conservancy and the Prospect Cemetery Association on the final stages of the multi-phased revitalization initiative.
The City of New York Department of Parks and Recreation will restore the Lanett Playground in Far Rockaway, the only playground in the West Lawrence section of the community. The project includes the addition of an ADA accessible comfort station, water play feature, playground equipment for toddlers, improved lighting, fencing and a basketball court.
Region Total $2,856,140
The Historical Society of Newburgh Bay and the Highlands will undertake a project to restore the 1830 Crawford House Museum which is necessary to expand the museum's role as an educational center for the community.
The Town of Greenville Parkland Committee will undertake a project to develop a nature trail at the Greenville Town Park, highlighting the natural and cultural features of the park.
The Town of Ramapo will acquire the Crow House, home and studio of Henry Varnum Poor, a distinguished American painter, ceramicist, architect and master builder, to prevent the house from being acquired and demolished by private development.
The Town of Ramapo will undertake a project to preserve the Jacob Sloat House (Harmony Hill) through historic reconstruction of the roof, front porch, doorway and grand staircase.
The County of Rockland, in partnership with the Trust for Public Lands, will acquire 30 acres of environmentally sensitive land in the Village of Pierpont. The property, known as the Cowboy Fields and part of the Palisades Ridge, is currently owned by the South Orangetown School District and has been used for environmental education and passive recreation. The acquisition will protect the parcel located along the viewshed of the Hudson River.
The Village of Spring Valley will undertake a project to rehabilitate the basketball courts and athletic fields in Memorial Park, the only large green space in the village.
The Town of Bethel will install basic handicapped accessible playground equipment at the town park to accommodate youth and summer day camp programs.
The Hudson River Maritime Museum interprets maritime heritage and historical artifacts related to the Hudson River. The project will improve visitor experience and increase educational opportunities.
Scenic Hudson, which works to protect and restore the Hudson River and its landscapes, will acquire a conservation easement on the David Hill properties to protect important ecological resources and preserve the landscape that is visible from the Vanderbilt National Historic Site.
The Bardavon 1869 Opera House is completing a merger with the Ulster Performing Arts Center (Broadway Theater) as part of the revitalization of the City of Kingston. The project is Phase I of a major renovation of the Broadway Theater.
The project involves the donation and restoration of a threatened historic property on Henry Street in the inner City of Kingston to TRANSART & Cultural Services, Inc., an arts organization supporting African American art history and popular culture.
SARATOGA/CAPITAL DISTRICT REGION
Region Total $4,281,206
The Town of Colonie will acquire 56.8 acres of the Vinciguerra property located adjacent to the Mohawk River, the Mohawk Hudson Bike Hike Trail, and between two Town-owned properties. The acquisition will secure public access to the Mohawk River, preserve significant wildlife habitat and protect the viewshed from the Mohawk River, which is part of the National Heritage Corridor.
This project is for the design, permitting and construction of a permanent mooring system for the historic naval ship USS Slater at the Albany Snow Dock and to provide for the continued maintenance of the existing mooring system over the next two years. This project will allow the Slater to remain in Albany year round and will serve as the City's south anchor to the Corning Preserve waterfront redevelopment.
Historic Cherry Hill has won numerous regional and national awards for its education programs and publications that help teachers meet New York State learning standards. This project will allow the museum to undertake repairs and restoration of the home, ensuring the landmark will remain an educational resource.
The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, the oldest neo-Gothic cathedral in the United States, is being preserved. This project involves stone repair and replacement on the east façade of the building.
The Centro Civico of Amsterdam will develop a community park in a disadvantaged and underserved neighborhood.
The Village of Canajoharie will improve access points, trails, water availability and signage in Wintergreen Park and begin development of a recreational corridor along the Canajoharie Creek/Gorge that will link the park with downtown, the Erie Canal waterfront, Erie Canalway Trail and New York State Thruway.
In Partnership with the Village of Hoosick Falls, the Hoosic River Watershed Association will create a Greenway extending 2.5 +/- miles along an abandoned rail corridor adjacent to the Hoosic River. The Greenway will run through the Village providing recreational opportunities and access to the shops, restaurants and the business district.
The Village of Waterford will implement streetscape improvements for Second Street, a two-block right-of-way linking the waterfront with downtown. Improvements include repair/replacement of sidewalks, tree planting and installation of antique style lighting.
Saratoga P.L.A.N. seeks to complete Phase II of the ¿Round Lake Preserve,¿ by acquiring a conservation easement over 118 acres of land in the Town of Malta and Stillwater adjacent to nationally significant archeological resources, state significant ecological resources and potential trail access to the Mid-County and Zim Smith Trail Systems. The acquisition includes approximately 0.5 miles of frontage along Anthony Kill, a waterway that connects Round Lake to the Hudson River.
The Vale Cemetery Association, which promotes, preserves and maintains the 150 year old cemetery, will carry out projects that stop vandalism and other crimes, and improve/encourage public access.
The project will replace deteriorated playground equipment with a new handi-capped accessible playground and improve an existing 30 year old nature/fitness trail that will connect to the new playground.
The Crandall Public Library will undertake a project to restore, rehab and renovate its history 1931 Colonial Revival building. The project will increase public accessibility and use and will provide additional access to historic resources.
The Town of Putnam will acquire a parcel of waterfront property to be designated for open space, recreational use, and to provide access to Lake Champlain.
The County of Essex will rehabilitate the former Toll Collector's House at the foot of the Champlain Bridge in Crown Point that links New York and Vermont. The project will improve the 70+ year old structure while maintaining its historic integrity, as well as enhance its use as the Lake Champlain Visitor's Center and office space for the Essex County Tourism Bureau and Lakes to Locks Passage Scenic Byway staff.
The Village of Keesville will develop a Veterans Park to commemorate veterans of all wars and to serve as a hub for passive recreation.
The Lake George Land Conservancy will acquire 480 acres of ecologically important upland in Bolton Landing for passive recreation and wildlife studies and to protect it from private development.
A coalition of not-for-profit environmental groups and local municipalities will create a public park at the site of an abandoned amusement park (Gaslight Village). The park will include nature and fitness trails, open space and interpretive areas. A series of water elements will be incorporated into the park to manage stormwater flowing from the West Brook watershed and NYS Route 9 before it enters the waters of Lake George.
The Town of Johnsonburg will rehab and expand recreational facilities at the historic Ski Bowl Park in North Creek. The project will develop an interpretive map for existing trails from the park to the town center as well as restore tennis and basketball courts.
Region Total $1,814,070
The Hudson Opera House, built in 1855, is New York's oldest surviving theater. This project will restore much of the exterior of the building, staircase and upper level public lobby.
The Hudson Area Library Association will undertake a multi-phased project to stabilize and restore the historic building, constructed in 1818, and address issues relating to health and safety, energy conservation, and protecting and preserving the library's collections, as well as a reconfiguration of the programming space.
The Scenic Hudson Land Trust, Inc., will create a passive recreation park on property located in the Town of Stockport. The park will include a hiking trail, wildlife observation areas, pavilion, and interpretive signage on ecologically sensitive riverfront property abutting the Hudson River.
The Town of Red Hook will acquire and develop the historic St. Margaret's Home, constructed in 1852-53. The building will provide for the adaptive re-use of the structure as a cultural center for children's and seniors' art education program as well as a site for veterans, honoring local residents from the time of the American Revolution.
The mission of the Walkway Over the Hudson is to preserve the historic Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad Bridge over the Hudson River between Dutchess and Ulster Counties. This project will create a park and walkway for pedestrians. The historic railroad bridge was the longest bridge in the world at the time of its opening in 1888 and will provide public access from 27 miles of trials on the east and west sides of the river.
The Teatown Lake Reservation will rehabilitate the Lakeside hiking trail to include stabilization to prevent erosion, removal of invasive species, installation of benches, replacement of the gazebo roof and additional educational/interpretive signage.
The Town of Cortlandt will complete a landscape improvement project at the 30 acre riverfront Steamboat River Park in the hamlet of Verplanck. The town will develop trails, areas of shoreline stabilization, wetland enhancements and other improvements such as a pavilion, decks, landings and kiosks.
The Croton Arboretum and Sanctuary is a voluntary non-profit which manages a nature preserve on 20+ acres of undeveloped land donated for conservation purposes by a local philanthropist. This project involves the extension of a handicapped accessible nature trail to enable users to make a circuit of wetland and wooded habitats.
The Village of Tarrytown will acquire Hudson Riverfront land and develop a park. The project will protect environment, restore natural habitats, create riverfront recreation and education facilities and provide improved access to the river.
THOUSAND ISLANDS/NORTH COUNTRY REGION
Region Total $1,061,776
The Town of Peru will create a park at the Mason & Sons sawmill site, improving access and developing historic interpretation. The park will also serve as the trail head to the Little Ausable River Trail being developed.
This project will protect and restore the Christ Episcopal Church, Sackets Harbor, built in 1832, the centerpiece to the Sackets Harbors Heritage Area. Past parishioners include Ulysses S. Grant (18th president of the United States) and Fiorello Henry LaGuardia (former mayor of New York City).
The Jefferson County Soil and Water Conservation District will undertake a project to develop parkland to include day use facilities and play fields
The Village of Ellisburg will expand its village park and baseball fields and add a playground, offering a broader range of recreational opportunities for younger families and children.
The Thompson Park Conservancy will rehabilitate the Eagle Exhibit and the New York State Zoo at Thompson Park, additional animals will be acquired and enhanced signage will be installed. The improvements are crucial to the zoo reacquiring accreditation with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
The Town of Martinsburg will restore the Martinsburg Town Hall, the first county court in Lewis County and the site of the only execution in the history of the county. This project involves restoration of the foundation, wood siding, roof, chimneys and cupola.
The Heuvelton Historical Association will preserve and restore Pickens Hall for use as a museum and restored opera house, establish a general store offering local Amish products, and replicate an Amish home.
The City of Ogdensburg will install docking to expand the City Marina from six to twenty four slips, increasing transient dockage by 400 percent benefiting downtown Ogdensburg.
The Adirondack Council will build and maintain a handcrafted carousel featuring a handicapped accessible chariot and 23 wildlife figures native to the Adirondack region. The attraction will be housed at a year-round pavilion in William Morris Park in Saranac Lake. The Adirondack Carousel plan will also become an education and community center.