News from the Friends of Reinstein

Friends of Reinstein Woods was awarded a $10,581 matching grant from the Environmental Protection Fund’s Park and Trail Partnership Grants program to build an enclosure that will protect and establish the native forest as well as to improve public access and education related to forest ecosystems. Friends of Reinstein Woods has already raised a 10% match for the project so that work can begin.

“Friends of Reinstein Woods was grateful for the opportunity to apply for a stewardship and public access capacity grant through the Park & Trail Partnership Grant Program,” said Friends Board President Eric Gallo. “We are thrilled to have been awarded the grant! This will help us implement some of the recommendations from the Forest Management Plan we commissioned in 2021 and help ensure that Reinstein Woods is here for all to enjoy for generations to come.”

Reinstein Woods’ 2021 Forest Management Plan warned that the severe pressure from deer predation will cause the forest to regress until there is no longer a mature forest at the site. With this grant, Friends of Reinstein Woods will enclose .81 acre of forest at Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve to protect a portion of the preserve from the deer that inhabit it. The enclosure will protect existing trees and allow the establishment of native forest wildflowers and shrubs that are often eliminated by grazing deer. A trail through the enclosure, to be added once the garden is established, will connect visitors to these plants and offer learning opportunities.

The grant is one of 28 awards totaling $1.8 million (the highest amount awarded in the Park and Trail Partnership Grant program’s 8-year history) 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 our 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.

Parks & Trails New York Executive Director Paul Steely White said, “These grants are like rich organic fertilizer for growing the grassroots movement to improve New York’s parks, trails, historic sites, and public lands. Accessible kayak launches, bridge repairs, strategic planning and youth education are just a few examples of the newly funded projects that will bring more nature and more joy to more New Yorkers.”

To view a list of all Round 8 awardees, please 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 x3. 

About Friends of Reinstein Woods:

Friends of Reinstein Woods is a volunteer-led, nonprofit organization that supports the environmental education programs offered by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation at Reinstein Woods. We provide vital financial and volunteer support for programs aimed at school children, teachers, youth from underserved neighborhoods, and the general public. We also support stewardship projects designed to protect and restore the natural habitats at Reinstein Woods. Our mission is to promote knowledge of nature through awareness, appreciation, and stewardship of the unique and diverse environment of Reinstein Woods and its programs.