ALBANY — Some Greene County towns and projects were awarded over $678,000 in state Smart Growth grants this week.
Wednesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Wednesday more than $5.4 million awarded in state Smart Growth grants to 48 communities and organizations in the Catskill and Adirondack regions.
The funded projects will support regions renowned for connecting visitors to nature by improving and expanding recreation opportunities; addressing hamlet infrastructure, energy, and affordable housing needs; providing visitor center, theater, and museum enhancements; improving accessibility and safety issues; and supporting comprehensive planning efforts.
“Smart Growth grants represent a vital investment in our communities, fostering sustainable development, economic prosperity, and enhanced quality of life for all New Yorkers,” Hochul said. “With these grants, we are empowering local leaders to implement forward-thinking solutions that address pressing challenges while laying the foundation for a brighter, more prosperous future. My administration’s focus on the housing crisis is central to this round of grant awards with funding being directed to local code revisions and project predevelopment costs for affordable housing.”
The projects are part of the state’s action to support communities’ smart growth planning and implementation of sustainable projects. The smart growth approach to community planning and development promotes land use in a way that creates livable, sustainable and equitable communities.
“Empowering municipalities to innovate, collaborate, and focus on long-term resilience is an essential complement to the state’s aggressive protection efforts and helps to create lasting partnerships and the park communities of the future,” said Sean Mahar, interim commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation.
Under the Catskill Park Projects, Greene County was part of a multicounty project focusing on recreation, environment, sustainable economic growth and other smart growth priorities, to enhance visitors’ experience in the Catskill Park.
Prattsville was awarded $125,000 for the Prattsville Park, Tannersville was awarded $125,000 for Upper Lake Park and $47,000 for the Rip Van Winkle Lake Park and Huckleberry Trail signage. The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference was awarded $73,443 for the Catskill Trail Conservation Program, while the Mountain Top Arboretum was awarded $35,000 for its interpretive signage.
The Town of Hunter was awarded $125,000 for projects addressing affordable housing and its comprehensive plan and a pro-housing community local law.
“I am very happy to announce the grant,” Town of Hunter Supervisor Sean Mahoney said. “It will allow us to develop a resilient comprehensive plan, develop our pro-housing community approach and create a new strategy for our local municipal infrastructure.”
The grants will assist local communities with long-term plans and the overall community vitality, said both the director and executive director of the Catskill Watershed Corporation.
“These Smart Growth grants are consistent with the needs of our member towns and CWC’s dual missions of water quality protection and community,” said corporation Director Barbara Puglisi and corporation Executive Director Jason Merwin