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

• NHA Event Sponsorship Applications Are Now Exclusively on Our Online Grants Platform. Learn more.

• Greenway Planning, Greenway Trail, and Heritage Development Grant Applications are Available Through Our Online Grants Platform by May 5, 2023. More details.

• Order our Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area Map Guides. Order now.

HRVG Releases the 2022 Hudson River Valley Greenway Trail Visitation Report

The Hudson River Valley Greenway (HRVG) released the 2022 Hudson River Valley Greenway Trail Visitation Report. The report includes visitation numbers to fourteen different trail sections on the Hudson River Valley Greenway Trail (HRVG Trail) using automated counters to detect users.

In 2021, HRVG launched a long-term initiative to gather data on the public’s use of the HRVG Trail. HRVG and partner organizations utilize automated trail counters installed for 12-month periods to collect detailed trail visitation data. 

This “Year-One” report presents annual trail use data for fourteen locations along the 275-mile HRVG Trail. More than 1.25 million visits were counted across the fourteen sites. Annual visitation averaged 91,000 per site, demonstrating the trail’s widespread popularity. The counts varied widely, from 10,291 visits on the Champlain Canalway Trail in Fort Ann in Washington County to 559,886 at the Walkway Over the Hudson State Park in Poughkeepsie.

The 1,276,496 visits at the 14 specific locations capture only a small fraction of total visitation to the HRVG Trail. HRVG plans to collect data at new locations each year to provide a sufficient number of sample points to develop an estimate of total visitation to the entire 275-mile route. The full report can be found on HRVG's website.

Submit Your Ramble Event Now!

Event registration is now open for the 2023 Hudson River Valley Ramble! We are once again inviting heritage sites, municipalities, organizations, businesses, individuals, and more to be our partners in this regional event!

The Hudson River Valley Ramble is an annual event series during the month of September that celebrates the history, culture, and natural resources of the Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area, as well as the amazing landscape, communities, and trails throughout the region.

Event registration is open to the 14 counties in the geographic area of the Hudson River Valley Greenway and Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area for any day during the month of September and October 1st. There will be a limited print of guidebooks this year, and the events will be listed on our website. Submit your events now!

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to email us at Ramble@HudsonGreenway.ny.gov or give us a call at (518) 473-3835.

Attention Heritage Sites: Guidance for Before and After Disasters

The National Park Service has announced the release of the “Before and After Disasters” guidance document, which lays out the federal aid available to historic preservation leaders in the aftermath of a federally declared disaster. This guidance document covers funding opportunities, agency contacts, documentation, and other information to guide preparedness, response, and recovery from natural disasters.

Natural disasters are increasing in frequency and intensity, so it’s crucial that communities and heritage sites are aware of the federal aid available for protecting historic resources in times of crisis. Other resources can be found alongside the guidance document at State, Tribal, Local, Plans & Grant’s Disaster Program page. Read the full press release.

Hudson River Valley Greenway's Grant Applications Are Now Hosted on Good Grants

Grant applications for all Hudson River Valley Greenway and Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage grant programs, including Community/Compact Planning, Conservancy Trail, and Heritage Development Grants are hosted by Good Grants, an online grants platform. The online HRVG Grants Platform went live on November 5, 2022, and 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. This change is being made in part to help ensure we are receiving full and complete applications that may then be considered immediately. Previously, incomplete applications were automatically rejected.

All applications for funding are required to submit grant applications on the new online platform to apply for funding for all grant rounds. Applicants must register on the HRVG Grant Platform using their email addresses. 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

• Warm Weather and Rain Means Amphibians Are on the Move. Learn How You Can Help.

Striped Bass Fishing Begins April 1: Join Cooperative Anglers

The recreational striped bass fishing season in the Hudson River and its tributaries north of the George Washington Bridge begins April 1st, and in marine waters south of the George Washington Bridge on April 15th!



If you fish for striped bass, you can be part of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) striped bass cooperative angler programs, whether you catch and release or take home a keeper. Share your fishing trip information and help biologists understand and manage our striped bass fishery.

Visit DEC's Hudson River Cooperative Angler website or email hudsonangler@dec.ny.gov for information about the Hudson River Cooperative Angler Program. If you fish for striped bass in New York’s marine waters south of the George Washington Bridge, contact the Diadromous Fish Unit at sbcaprogram@dec.ny.gov or visit DEC’s Striped Bass Cooperative Angler website. 

Upcoming Events

Climate Action Mixer, Keepsake at the Academy, Poughkeepsie, NY

April 4: Join Partners for Climate Action Hudson Valley and your peers from across the region in Poughkeepsie to strengthen existing partnerships and make new connections. Read more.

Story Court, Historic Salem Courthouse, Salem, NY

April 6: Two guest speakers will discuss life in Salem, New York. More details.

Crafty Kids Welcome Spring!, Clermont State Historic Site, Germantown, NY

April 8: Crafty Kids welcomes spring with an arts and crafts day at the newly renovated Visitors Center! Find out more.

Stargazing in the Preserve, Rockefeller State Park Preserve, Pleasantville, NY

April 11: Peer into the cosmos with Vinny Coulehan of the Rockland Astronomy Club. More info.

The Croton Aqueduct in the Bronx, Old Croton Aqueduct State Historic Park, Bronx, NY

April 12: Join Bronx native, Michelle Pollack, and Director of Education for the Bronx Historical Society, Roger McCormack, for a fun and informative tour. Read more.

Tales of the Titanic, Staatsburgh State Historic Site, Staatsburgh, NY

April 13: Mark the 111th anniversary of the sinking by touring the home of Titanic ticket holders, Ogden and Ruth Mills. More details.

Evening Springtime Hike, Thacher State Park, Voorheesville, NY

April 15: Join the search for American woodcock, spring peepers, drumming grouse, and other signs of spring renewal on this moderate 1.5-mile evening hike through forests and fields. Learn more.

Smokey Bear & His Wildlife Friends, FASNY Museum, Hudson, NY

April 15: Back by popular demand, Smokey Bear will be returning to the Museum with some of his wildlife friends! Read more.

Flag Changing Ceremony, Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park, Highland, NY

April 16: The American Legion Post 739 organizes and presents monthly flag-changing ceremonies on the Walkway bridge to honor our region's veterans and their service to our country. Find out more.

Winnakee-Dutchess Trails Roundtable (WEBINAR)

April 18: Roundtable brings together stakeholders to foster trail development on a local and regional scale through networking, information sharing, and enhancing access to financial resources and technical assistance. More details.

NYS Constitution Day, Senate House State Historic Site, Kingston, NY

April 20: Visit the museum for a tour, participate in a quill pen writing activity, grab a copy of the original 1777 NYS Constitution, and learn more about this foundational document. Learn more.

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

April 21: The Mid-Hudson Astronomical Association hosts a monthly stargazing party in the West Beach parking lot. More info.

Earth Day Celebration, Trailside Museums & Zoo, Bear Mountain, NY

April 22: Celebrate Earth Day and springtime with some family-friendly and Earth-friendly fun. More details.

Earth Day Hike, Bennington Battlefield State Historic Site, Walloomsac, NY

April 22: Join a guided hike of Battle Loop Trail to mark the Earth Day holiday. Learn more.

Kermit Roosevelt III on “The Nation That Never Was”, Jay Heritage Center, Rye, NY

April 23: Professor at the University of Pennsylvania law school and the great-great-grandson of President Theodore Roosevelt, will discuss his new book. Find out more.

Mind the Planet: A Nature-Self Earth Day Retreat, Sheldrake Environmental Center, Larchmont, NY

April 23: Join us for this special Earth Day retreat where we’ll tap into the reciprocal, healing relationship between humans and the natural world. More details.

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

April 24: Enjoy nature with others who are looking to get outside. Read more.

Educator Workshop: Project WET, Five Rivers Environmental Education Center, Delmar, NY

April 26: Project WET (Water Education Today) is a hands-on curriculum developed specifically for teachers by teachers and experts in the field to teach students about water. Learn more.

Book Talk: The Gun, the Ship, and the Pen: Warfare, Constitutions and the Making of the Modern World, John Jay Homestead State Historic Site, Katonah, NY

April 27: Linda Colley discusses changes in warfare, communications and global expansion, and describes how governments use their constitutions to signal their legitimacy and modernness to the world. Read more.

Arbor Day, Olana State Historic Site, Hudson, NY

April 29: Celebrate Arbor Day during an afternoon of drop-in activities, workshops, and free walking tours through Olana's forested landscape. More details.

Antiques Appraisal Day, Locust Grove Estate, Poughkeepsie, NY

April 30: Bring your antiques and let Robert Meringolo of "The Appraisers Road Show" and other nationally recognized appraisers examine your treasures and tell you just how much they are worth! Find out more.

The Shorter and More Scenic Route to Gertrude’s Nose, Minnewaska State Park Preserve, Kerhonkson, NY

April 30: Join an Environmental Educator, for an adventurous, six-mile round-trip hike to Gertrude's Nose and back along the same route. More info.

Heritage Spotlight: Vanderbilt Mansion State Historic Site, Dutchess County

The 50-room Classical-style mansion was built in 1898 by Frederick William Vanderbilt, a grandson of “Commodore” Cornelius Vanderbilt—the shipping and railroad magnate and richest man in America during his lifetime. One of eight heirs to his family’s fortune, Frederick purchased the property in 1895 and hired Charles McKim (of McKim, Mead and White, then the country’s leading architecture firm) to fashion a “country house” in which the family could entertain guests during the spring and fall. Vanderbilt also used the property as a “gentleman’s

farm,” often spending hours among its gardens and specimen trees. The limestone façade features columns on all four sides. Stanford White created most of the interiors, which are intact and include an antique carved and painted Venetian ceiling, 15th-century Flemish tapestries, Ming vases, Renaissance chairs, and 16th-century Florentine chests. Landscaped grounds feature a formal terraced garden, expansive lawns, carriage roads, and a three-mile-long riverside hiking trail. Learn more.

Project Spotlight: Town of New Paltz Community Preservation Plan

The Town of New Paltz in Ulster County received a Greenway Community Planning Grant to complete a community preservation plan. In 2006, the Town of New Paltz adopted its original Open Space Plan, and in 2007 the Town secured a $2 million Clean Water Open Space Bond to fund protection efforts. Since then the Town has accomplished some major open space goals in the plan and determined it needed to reassess its priorities. The Community Preservation Plan serves as an update to its original Open Space Plan, which has enabled consideration of new, sustainable sources of conservation financing. The new plan provided a basis for the Town to establish its Community Preservation Fund to create a sustainable, long-term source of funding for open space, farmland, and historic preservation. Learn more about the Town of New Paltz's Community Preservation Plan.

Turn It Off

Make it a habit to turn off the lights when you're leaving any room for 15 minutes or more. The same goes for electronics; switch off power strips and unplug electrical devices when you're not using them to save electricity. 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. Applications are due on HRVG's Online Grants Platform by May 5, 2023. More details.

Hudson River Valley Greenway Community Grant Program

Matching grants are available for Greenway Communities and Greenway Compact Communities. Applications are due on HRVG's Online Grants Platform by May 5, 2023. 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. Please note that staff time is eligible to be reimbursed, but only if that staff time is for the direct development of programming or interpretation, as identified in the grant application. Applications are due on HRVG's Online Grants Platform by May 5, 2023. Learn more.

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.

Barnabas McHenry Hudson River Valley Awards

Awards, up to $5,000 each, provide financial support for undergraduate or graduate students to pair with nonprofits in the Hudson River Valley region. Projects should educate local and academic communities, promote awareness of the history and environment, and invoke change. Deadline: April 3, 2023. Find out more.

Economic Development Administration Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance Programs 

The EDA provides grants to meet the full range of communities’ and regions’ economic development needs from planning and technical assistance to the construction of infrastructure and more. Deadline: April 5, 2023. More details.

Bureau of Land Management Greening STEM Grants RFA

This year, it is anticipated that there will be $60,000 available to issue grants ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 each for projects during the 2023-2024 academic school year. Through these BLM Greening STEM grants, BLM and NEEF seek to advance mutual STEM education goals by providing program participants with access to authentic STEM experiences that use the environment and the agency’s unique mission—to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations—as a context for engagement. Deadline: April 15, 2023. Learn more.

USDA Forest Service Greening STEM Grants

Through these FS Greening STEM grants, FS and NEEF seek to advance mutual STEM education goals by providing program participants with access to authentic STEM experiences that use the environment and the agency’s unique mission—to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation's forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations—as a context for engagement.This year, it is anticipated that there will be $35,000 available to issue grants ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 each for projects during the 2023-2024 academic school year. Deadline: April 30, 2023. More info.

Major Collaborative Archival Initiatives

The National Historical Publications and Records Commission of the National Archives supports projects that promote access to America's historical records to encourage understanding of our democracy, history, and culture. Draft Deadline: February 15, 2023. Deadline: May 3, 2023. Read more.

2023 Biodiversity Conservation Grant: Enhancing Pollinator Habitats

Habitat enhancement projects should directly support the creation, restoration, remediation, improvement, and/or protection of habitats for important pollinator species such as butterflies, bees, bats, and more. The project should impact pollinators on at least 150 acres of public land. The land does not need to be contiguous. Additionally, projects should incorporate community outreach and engagement activities designed to educate and empower the public to help enhance pollinator habitats. Deadline: May 10, 2023. More details.

Tree Planting in Disadvantaged Communities After Ash Tree Loss Grant Opportunity

The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Division of Lands and Forests announced funding for Tree Planting in Disadvantaged Communities After Ash Tree Loss. Funding for this two-year grant comes from the US Forest Service and National Association of State Foresters through the State Urban Forest Resilience Grant and from the NYS Environmental Protection Fund. Grant projects must plant trees for urban and community forests in New York State. Deadline: May 30, 2023. More info.

Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program

The Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program (CFI Program) is a new competitive grant program created by President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to strategically deploy publicly accessible electric vehicle charging and alternative fueling infrastructure in the places people live and work – urban and rural areas alike – in addition to along designated Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFCs). CFI Program investments will make modern and sustainable infrastructure accessible to all drivers of electric, hydrogen, propane, and natural gas vehicles. Deadline: May 30, 2023. Find out more.

Mellon Planning Grants for Collaborative Digital Editions in African American, Asian American, Hispanic American, and Native American History and Ethnic Studies

The National Historical Publications and Records Commission of the National Archives supports projects that promote access to America's historical records to encourage understanding of our democracy, history, and culture. Draft Deadline April 1, 2023. Final Deadline: June 7, 2023. Read more.

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.