Scenic Hudson Land Campaign Impressive During Quadricentennial Year

POUGHKEEPSIE – While this year's Quadricentennial celebrations drew people to the river in record numbers, Scenic Hudson achieved important victories in protecting the Hudson Valley's natural treasures and connecting more people to them.

Continuing its campaign to Save the Land That Matters Most, a long-term collaborative initiative to protect 65,000 acres, the organization during 2009 already has preserved seven properties and envisions acquiring four more by year's end, bringing to 1,200 acres the magnificent landscapes it safeguarded in 2009. With partners it also completed six major park projects and began work on several more. In Albany, Scenic Hudson's advocacy efforts helped save critical state funding for land protection and helped enact legislation that will vastly reduce litter in parks and along roadsides.

All of these accomplishments will enhance residents' quality of life and promote economically vibrant communities--a major goal of Saving the Land That Matters Most.

Highlights of lands protected during 2009

The landscapes Scenic Hudson has protected in 2009--all deemed by New York State to be of the highest scenic, ecological or agricultural importance--include:

• 76 acres below Shaupeneak Ridge in Esopus (Ulster County), safeguarding diverse wildlife habitats and spectacular views from the ridge's popular public trails.
• 140 acres of farmland, meadows and wooded ridges along a scenic byway in Clermont (Columbia County), completing a 1,200-acre protected landscape near Clermont State Historic Site.
• 30 acres of undisturbed, ecologically important wetlands adjacent to Black Creek in Lloyd (Ulster County), a favorite destination for paddling and fishing.
• 37 acres that buffer vital wildlife habitats at Vosburgh Swamp in Coxsackie (Greene County) from a busy nearby road and contribute to stunning views from the Hudson River and parks along its eastern shore.

Details on all of Scenic Hudson's 2009 transactions are available at www.scenichudson.org/successstories.

Additional important land deals anticipated before end of 2009

Before the year's end, Scenic Hudson intends to complete four more transactions. These properties include a landscape prominently visible from many public viewpoints in the Hudson Highlands and the largest farm Scenic Hudson has ever conserved.

"All of the properties we acquired this year were priorities of Saving the Land That Matters Most, Scenic Hudson's Quadricentennial legacy initiative. The campaign is vital to sustaining the valley's $4.7-billion tourism economy, and the 80,000 jobs linked to this industry. Protected land and parks also enhance our competitiveness in the new 'green economy.' Surveys indicate corporate executives consider a region's quality of life and natural beauty to be leading selling points when relocating. The number of high-tech firms moving here indicate the valley's scenic splendor and abundant recreational opportunities give it a leg up in attracting new business," said Scenic Hudson President Ned Sullivan.

"In addition, safeguarded farmland will continue providing healthy local produce and mitigating climate-change impacts of transporting food around the globe, while conserved wetlands improve the quality of our air and water and serve as buffers from potentially catastrophic storm surges predicted under current climate-change scenarios," he added.

New parks provide exciting opportunities to explore nature, boost local economies

Scenic Hudson played a prominent role in opening new public parks throughout the valley. They include:

• Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park in Poughkeepsie (Dutchess County), to which Scenic Hudson contributed a leadership grant. The park's western gate is named in honor of the organization, which has protected eight properties prominently visible from the span.
• The Walkway Loop Trail. Scenic Hudson conceived of the project and partnered with local communities to create this 3.6-mile trail linking the Walkway and Mid-Hudson Bridge with urban, cultural and recreational sites on both riverfronts.
• Franny Reese State Park in Lloyd (Ulster County). These 249 acres offering breathtaking views of the Hudson River and City of Poughkeepsie originally were protected by Scenic Hudson, which co-manages the park.
• Harrier Hill Park in Stockport (Columbia County)--Scenic Hudson's newest park--featuring a new pavilion and handicapped-accessible trail enhancing enjoyment of panoramic Hudson River and Catskills views.

Scenic Hudson also commenced work with local partners on two Westchester County park projects--replacing an 80-year-old asphalt plant on Tarrytown's waterfront with an exciting new esplanade (to be called Scenic Hudson RiverWalk Park) and transforming the historic bathhouse at Sleepy Hollow's Kingsland Point Park into a center for environmental education and recreation. The center will be named in honor of philanthropist Kathryn Wasserman Davis, who contributed $4 million to the project.

"The crowds flocking to the Walkway--400,000 in the first two months--emphasize the need, especially in these uncertain times, of creating more places close to home where people can experience nature. And the pickup in business reported by restaurants and shops near the Walkway attests to the value of parks in boosting local economies," said Mr. Sullivan. "All of the park projects Scenic Hudson engaged in this year provide communities with fitting and lasting commemorations of the Quadricentennial, whose theme was economic and environmental sustainability."

Advocacy efforts in Albany bolster land preservation, economic opportunity

At the state capitol this year, Scenic Hudson spearheaded efforts to prevent the Hudson River Valley Greenway from becoming a budget casualty. The Greenway provides a proven framework for government, environmental and business leaders to achieve the dual goals of protecting the region's world-class natural beauty and achieving sustainable economic development that revitalizes downtowns.

Working with partners Scenic Hudson fought back potentially devastating cuts to the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF). While amounting to a fraction of 1 percent of the state's budget, the EPF provides communities much-needed resources for protecting farmland, improving drinking water and creating parks. The EPF also funds the Hudson River Estuary Program, which promotes cleanup of the river and public access to it. And with allies, Scenic Hudson achieved a 20-year victory with passage of the Bigger, Better Bottle Bill (BBBB), requiring a five-cent deposit on bottled water. While slashing litter, the BBBB should add $115 million annually to the state's coffers.

Plans for 2010 outlined

In 2010 Scenic Hudson expects to build on this year's Saving the Land That Matters Most successes by:

• Protecting 15 properties encompassing 1,500 acres of iconic views, irreplaceable wildlife habitat and working farmland.
• Completing new parks in Westchester and Ulster counties and new amenities at existing Scenic Hudson parks in Putnam, Columbia and Greene counties.

"While the Quadricentennial hoopla may be over, Scenic Hudson will continue making strides toward our long-term 65,000-acre goal--an achievement that will be celebrated 100 years from now," said Mr. Sullivan.

Scenic Hudson works to protect and restore the Hudson River and its majestic landscape as an irreplaceable national treasure and a vital resource for residents and visitors. A crusader for the valley since 1963, we are credited with saving fabled Storm King Mountain from a destructive industrial project and launching the modern grass-roots environmental movement. Today with more than 25,000 ardent supporters, we are the largest environmental group focused on the Hudson River Valley. Our team of experts combines land acquisition, support for agriculture, citizen-based advocacy and sophisticated planning tools to create environmentally and economically healthy communities, open up riverfronts to the public and preserve the valley's inspiring beauty and natural resources.

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