Murphy announces two local groups will receive grants from park & trail partnership program

ALBANY, NY - Senator Terrence Murphy is pleased to announce that two organizations in his district, the Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct and Friends of the Rockefeller State Park Preserve, have been awarded grants through the Environmental Protection Park and Trail Partnership Program.
 
"We have some of the best parks, trails and historic sites in the nation. These grants will help enhance their beauty and viability," Senator Murphy said. "One grant will turn an unused space into a vital resource center for tourists. The funding for the Friends of Rockefeller State park Preserve is important to their future financial well-being, which in turn will help create jobs and boost the local economy."
 
The Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct will receive $47,475 to design and equip their first Visitor and Education Center. The center will be built in the Keeper's House, a National Historic Landmark that has been empty.
 
The Friends of Rockefeller State Preserve will get a $35,000 grant to hire fundraising and social media specialists to raise funds to refurbish the roads around Swan Lake, including Brother's Path.  

Last year, Senator Murphy authored and passed a law creating a permanent endowment for the care and maintenance Rockefeller Park Preserve within the state's Natural Heritage Trust, allowing funds to be invested aggressively and support the park for generations to come. 
 
Founded in 1985, Parks and Trails New York is dedicated to improving the health and quality of life of all New Yorkers by working with community organizations and municipalities to envision, create, promote and protect a growing network of parks, greenways and trails throughout the state.
 
The Park and Trail Partnership Program grants are administered by the State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation and Parks & Trails New York, a statewide non-profit group. The groups raise private funds for capital projects; perform maintenance tasks; provide educational programming, and promote public use through hosting special events.