A banner year for beautification

Record 69 awards announced at Sullivan Renaissance dinner

LIBERTY, NY — Sullivan Renaissance 2007 has awarded 69 beautification grants to communities throughout Sullivan County. The announcement of the record number of awards was made Thursday evening, March 29 at the CVI Building in Liberty. These projects must be completed by August 6 and will be judged on August 10, 11 and 12. A second round of grants will be awarded in the evening on August 13 at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts in Bethel.

Two special awards were given to long-time volunteers Barbara Hahn of Jeffersonville and Phil Coombe of Grahamsville, naming them “2007 Renaissance Woman” and “2007 Renaissance Man” in recognition of their creativity, dedication and leadership. A “2007 Renaissance Leadership” award went to Valerie Lagatutta for bringing the Sullivan Renaissance principles to a new generation.

Five categories of grants were awarded: single-element projects in Category A received $1,000; multiple-element projects in Category B got $1,500 and will be provided with paid youth interns; and three year-community development projects in Category C were given $5,000 grants (with another $5,000 in August), as well as interns and technical assistance. Mini-grants projects will be reimbursed up to $200, and Spruce Up Your School awards up to $200 went to small projects by classes or youth groups.

Among the grant recipients in Category C were Barryville’s Highland Renaissance, which received money for a planned multi-year project establishing a history walk, information center and landscaping; Kauneonga Lake, which plans enhancements of the farmers’ market that debuted last year, a nature walk, and landscaping and streetscaping of its triangle; and Lumberland, which seeks to improve Circle Park, a project started under the aegis of Sullivan Renaissance. Smaller projects receiving grants include Narrowsburg Beautification Group’s plans for enhancing the eagle-viewing outlook; the addition of a statue, water feature and flowers to the memorial park in North Branch; and Fremont Park Inc.’s landscaping and beautification of new restrooms at the ballpark in Fremont.

The second round of grants ranges between $1,000 and $10,000, with the Golden Feather Award of $50,000 going to a special Category C project. There are also Environmental Impact Awards, Historic Preservation Awards, Showing of Flowers Awards and Project Maintenance Awards in each category; Silver Feather Awards for planning in Categories B and C; and completion grants for every project.

Sullivan Renaissance is a beautification and community development program principally funded by the Beaverkill Foundation and the Gerry Foundation. Additional funding has been secured by New York State Senator John J. Bonacic and Assemblywoman Aileen M. Gunther.

Applications for other programs are still being accepted, including Municipal Clean-Up Grants, matching grants for seasonal communities and the Board of Realtors Sullivan Showcase Awards. Since 2001, Sullivan Renaissance has funded almost 300 projects throughout Sullivan County.

For more information visit or call 845/295-2445.