Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Parks & Trails New York awards capacity building grant to Owasco Flats Nature Reserve

Owasco Flats Nature Reserve is one of nine not-for profit park and trail groups selected to receive a Capacity Building Grant from the statewide advocacy organization, Parks & Trails New York. The awards are designed to help groups increase organizational visibility and generate community support, grow membership, and attract additional volunteers.

“Grassroots groups play a key role in the development and promotion of our state’s many parks and trails which make such a significant contribution to the economy of our cities, towns and villages as well as to the health and well-being of their residents,” said Robin Dropkin, Executive Director, Parks & Trails New York. “Made possible by a generous private donor, these nine grants are a small investment in strengthening our state’s not-for-profit park and trail organizations that will reap big benefits, enabling these groups to leverage more private funding and marshal more volunteer power to better fill the gaps in government spending created by challenging economic times.”

Owasco Flats Nature Reserve received $1,500 for graphic design of a logo and newsletter template and newsletter printing.

“This funding will help us to better communicate the opportunities available in the Owasco Flats Nature Reserve. Our hope is to grow a foundation of support amongst youth, families and communities. A visual presence will help us to do that”, commented Sandie Doran, Chairperson of the Owasco Flats Nature Reserve.

Awards were also granted to:

  • Brooklyn Greenway Initiative, Brooklyn, Kings County
  • Friends of Grimes Glen, Naples, Ontario County
  • Friends of Kinderhook Trails, Kinderhook, Columbia County
  • Friends of Taconic State Park, Copake Falls, Columbia County
  • Friends of Rockland Lake and Hook Mountain, Inc., Valley Cottage, Rockland County
  • Erie-Cattaraugus Rail Trail, Inc., Orchard Park, Erie and Cattaraugus Counties
  • Friends of Connetquot, Oakdale, Suffolk County
  • Association for Conservation of Recreational and Natural Spaces, Inc., Stafford, Genesee County

Parks & Trails New York received 55 applications from organizations located in 30 counties throughout the state. This is the second year that Parks & Trails New York has offered this funding assistance.

Parks & Trials New York is a statewide not-for-profit organization that has nurtured New York’s park and trail movements for more than 20 years, helping hundreds of groups and municipalities build, maintain, and promote parks, greenways, and more than 1,200 miles of multi-use trails

The Owasco Flats Nature Reserve, Inc. is a 501(C) 3 organization working to protect the ecological integrity of the Owasco Flats through stewardship and conservation. OFNR trails can be accessed from Rte 38 just south of cascade. For more information visit : http://owascoflatsnaturereserve.blogspot.com/protect the ecological integrity of the Owasco Flats through stewardship and conservation.

More information on the grant program and Parks & Trails New York can be found on the website, www.ptny.org or by calling 518-434-1583.