NEW YORK STATE — The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation on December 23 announced that more than $28 million has been awarded to support 64 recreation, historic preservation and trail projects through the 2025 Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) initiative.

These projects include several in the Sullivan County area. 

The Child Care Council of Westchester, Inc. got $100,000 to establish a Child Care Workforce Training Center serving the Mid-Hudson Region, including Sullivan County. The center, located in Tarrytown, will include a child care training simulation room as well as two training classrooms to support the goal of serving thousands of participants annually with training of best practice methods.  

The Village of Liberty received $1,497,159 in community development block grant funds for a Phase 2 Water System Improvements project to resolve deficiencies within the distribution system. 

EverGreen Meadow Services received $2,000,000 in grant funding. EverGreen Meadow Services (EGMS) is a not-for-profit organization that provides mental health programs and services to support girls who are struggling with the effects of trauma. EverGreen Meadow Academy is a holistic residential treatment center and middle school located in Rock Hill, Sullivan County, New York, which focuses on nature therapy, food as medicine and animal and farming therapy. Designed to support up to 24 girls at a time, in grades 6-8, who are at risk of self-harm, the academy offers a year-round immersive environment focused on healing, learning and connection. The campus is situated on a 34-acre and will emphasize the strong connection to the site’s existing natural features with three primary buildings including a onestory 15,750 square foot educational building, a one-story 15,050 square foot residential building, and a one-story 2,400 square foot administration building. Designed to meet Passive House standards the project will result in all electric structures that will utilize ENERGY STAR® water fixtures, low global warming potential refrigerant, building automation system, energy recovery ventilator and will target net zero performance with ground source heat pump, roof mounted and carport photovoltaic system. 

Bethel Woods Center for the Arts received $121,488 in grant funding. Bethel Woods Center for the Arts will implement Phase 1 of the Cultural Landscape Report at the National Register-listed 1969 Woodstock Festival site in Bethel. The project will restore historic woodland trails, replant canopy trees, remove invasive vegetation, and complete a Phase I archaeological survey, enhancing public access, preserving cultural resources, and supporting rural revitalization through heritage tourism. 

"These grants will help advance Governor Hochul’s goals to more New Yorkers to ‘Get Offline, Get Outside’ and take part in healthy recreation,” Executive Deputy Commissioner Tom Alworth said. “Local governments and community organizations will use these grants to protect the environment, expand access to outdoor recreation, celebrate our whole history and promote regional tourism throughout the state. Our agency looks forward to working with the grant recipients to make these exciting projects a success."