The Friends of Hamlin Beach State Park (FOHBSP) was awarded a $135,000 grant from the Environmental Protection Fund’s Park and Trail Partnership Grants program to create accessibility in Area 4 in and around the hexagon building and nearby bathroom. It is phase one of a project that will lead to the public use and access to the old concession stand, which is earmarked for an accessible nature and visitor center for Hamlin Beach State Park. The FOHBSP will have to raise an additional $15,000 in matching funds for a $150,000 total project budget.
The Friends of Hamlin Beach State Park is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit volunteer organization that supports and promotes the preservation, conservation, improvement and development of Hamlin Beach State Park and the former CCC/POW site located on park property for the benefit of the public and posterity. This is part of a multiphase project to create an educational and informational building and area easily accessible to the visitors of the park. This will upgrade the experience at the park by providing an area for park-led and self-guided educational opportunities. It will provide a place where the Friends can showcase their volunteer efforts with the planting and maintenance of the native pollinating gardens and trails in the park, as well as their monitoring of bird populations. It will also give the FOHBSP the ability to share the history of the CCC/POW site and the impact of their work on the park and in the community. Friends look forward to enhancing the park experience and welcoming all to enjoy the treasure of Hamlin Beach State Park.
The grant is one of 22 awards totaling $1.7 million for organizations dedicated to the stewardship and promotion of New York’s state parks and historic sites, trails, and public lands. The grants will be matched with private and local funding and will support projects to strengthen Friends groups and enhance public access and recreational opportunities.
Friends groups – nonprofit organizations often made up entirely of volunteers – are essential to the stewardship and promotion of New York’s state park system. These dedicated groups raise private funds for capital projects, perform maintenance tasks, provide educational programming, and promote public use through hosting special events.
The Park and Trail Partnership Grants are administered by Parks & Trails New York, a statewide non-profit organization, in partnership with the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation and the Department of Environmental Conservation.
Grants ranging from just under $5,000 to $300,000 were awarded to groups across the state. Parks & Trails New York Executive Director Paul Steely White said, “In the program’s most competitive year yet, these groups rose to the top with compelling projects created to make a meaningful impact on the communities and individuals who need public lands most. These vital projects will attract millions of visitors by creating new trails and footpaths, developing educational programs, and constructing ADA accessible bathrooms, just to name a few. We’re proud to continue investing in the growth of park programming and infrastructure that lays the groundwork for long-term stability, so New Yorkers can enjoy our state’s protected lands for years to come.”
To view a list of all Round 10 awardees, visit: https://www.ptny.org/our-work/support/park-trail-partnership-program/awardees.
More information on Park and Trail Partnership Grants can be found at www.ptny.org or by calling 518-434-1583 ext. 3.
Learn more about the Friends of Hamlin Beach State Park at https://friendsofhbsp.org/.
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