Dedication of Beacon Riverfront Park Celebrates Generosity of The Peter Jay Sharp Foundation

BEACON -- Scenic Hudson was joined today by City of Beacon officials and community leaders in a ceremony to dedicate Peter Jay Sharp Park on Scenic Hudson's Long Dock Beacon waterfront property. Representatives of The Peter Jay Sharp Foundation participated and viewed the 2.5-acre park's walking trails, dramatic shoreline art installation and stunning vistas of the Hudson River and iconic Hudson Highlands.

The Peter Jay Sharp Foundation's donation of $1 million is the largest private donation to Scenic Hudson's Long Dock Beacon site. The dedication ceremony highlighted Peter Jay Sharp Park's important contribution to the community and region, as it provides residents and visitors a wonderful place for recreation and relaxation amid the river's inspiring beauty. Scenic Hudson uses the site for field trips that each year introduce hundreds of local elementary students to the Hudson.

"This park honors a foundation that understands the broad and deep public benefit of creating special places like this along the Hudson River. The financial support of The Peter Jay Sharp Foundation, and assistance from other partners like the City of Beacon, transformed a former industrial property into a vital community asset," said Ned Sullivan, president of Scenic Hudson. "People are here all the time exercising, picnicking, fishing and just sitting back watching the river and its boat traffic. This now is a powerful green resource that helps Main Street and the local economy."

The Peter Jay Sharp Foundation President Norman L. Peck said that the foundation's namesake and founder would be proud. "Peter Jay Sharp would have loved to see how his gift is opening up new experiences and learning opportunities for people -- especially children. This community jewel will make a difference in many people's lives for generations to come. Our foundation champions education and the arts, and I can see that mission being served in a powerful way through this park and our partnership with Scenic Hudson."

Following the ceremony, Scenic Hudson officials showed plans for ongoing improvements at its 25-acre Long Dock Beacon site, which surrounds Peter Jay Sharp Park. During 2010 the environmental and land-preservation group will create a kayaking center, new trails through rehabilitated wetlands, an outdoor education area, and complete the renovation of an historic red barn that will host river-based arts and education programming.

Beacon Mayor Steve Gold applauded the park and conveyed what it means to the community. "For our quality of life and economic opportunity, our location on the Hudson is a great asset. But the benefits only come when you've got places where people can reach the river and experience all it has to offer. Today it's an honor for me to express heartfelt appreciation to The Peter Jay Sharp Foundation for its great generosity."

During remarks Mr. Sullivan said that it was fitting that Peter Jay Sharp -- a devoted patron of the arts who served on the boards of the Juilliard School, Lincoln Center and other leading groups -- should have a park in his name feature an exceptional artwork. Beacon Point Project by artist George Trakas is a riverside sculpture with an elegant boardwalk, terraced fishing platforms and an overall design that interacts with the Hudson's tidal changes. Other Beacon Point Project partners, including Minetta Brook's Diane Shamash and Dia Art Foundation, also were acknowledged. Mr. Sullivan additionally pointed out that The Peter Jay Sharp Foundation in 2004 supported Scenic Hudson's work to create its Mount Beacon Park.

During the event Scenic Hudson highlighted other funders of the park. The Lila Acheson and DeWitt Wallace Fund for the Hudson Highlands was cited for supplying monies to purchase the waterfront land. The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and the New York State Department of State were thanked for park-construction grants.

Peter Jay Sharp Park is one of three parks Scenic Hudson has created in Beacon. The others are 234-acre Mount Beacon Park, whose trails lead to spectacular mountaintop vistas of the Hudson River and Highlands, and 12-acre Madam Brett Park, an urban oasis along the Fishkill Creek. Scenic Hudson also facilitated the purchase by New York State of the 80-acre University Settlement Camp in Beacon. Its amenities – including a swimming pool, gym, theater and ball field – will be enjoyed by residents as well as visitors.

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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