Mary Mangione, Acting Executive Director of the Hudson River Valley Greenway, announced the approval of a $15,000 Greenway Compact grant to the Town of Cortlandt and Westchester County, both Greenway Compact Communities, to help fund a biodiversity study of Oscawana Island/McAndrews Park. The study will identify and assess significant habitat in the 75 acre parcel and develop a series of baseline recommendations to guide the Town and County in future planning and development efforts.
Mangione stated, “The Hudson River Valley Greenway is pleased to support this project through grant funding. Oscawana Island/McAndrews Park is a designated Hudson River Greenway Water Trail Site and a biodiversity study is essential to ensure the preservation and enhancement of animal and plant habitat on this important piece of Hudson River property, while allowing the development of passive recreation and public access to the Hudson River.”
Town of Cortlandt Supervisor Linda D. Puglisi, stated, “On behalf of the Town of Cortlandt, I would like to thank the Hudson River Greenway for the $15,000 Greenway Compact Grant to complete a biodiversity study of the McAndrews Parcel at Oscawana Island. The Town of Cortlandt has worked closely with the Greenway for over ten years on a variety of projects. We strongly support the Greenway for their efforts at preserving scenic, natural, historic, cultural and recreational resources while encouraging compatible economic development. The biodiversity study of the McAndrews parcel will help to define a baseline from which appropriate development of passive recreational uses at this Hudson River site can be designed and constructed.
County Executive Andy Spano said, “The Oscawana Island/McAndrews Parcel Biodiversity study will provide a sound planning foundation on which plans for future park development can be based. The proposed trails at this location would be a wonderful addition to Westchester County’s RiverWalk and the Hudson River Valley Greenway Trail System. We welcome the opportunity to work with the Town and State on this important initiative.”
The Hudson River Valley Greenway is a New York State agency within the Executive Department, established by the Greenway Act of 1991. Presently, 232 out of the 258 eligible municipalities within the Greenway area have joined he Greenway. The Greenway is designed to encourage Hudson River Valley communities to develop projects and initiatives related to the criteria of natural and cultural resource protection, regional and local planning, economic development, public access to the Hudson River (as well as other regional and local resources), and heritage and environmental education. It provides technical assistance and small grants for planning, capital projects, and water trail and land-based trails that reinforce the Greenway Criteria. In keeping with the New York tradition of home rule, the Greenway program has no regulatory authority. The participation of municipalities in Greenway programs and projects is entirely voluntary.
Visit www.hudsongreenway.state.ny.us for more information on the Greenway. Visit hudsonrivervalley.com for more information on the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area.
