News from the Friends of Reinstein

GRANT TO FRIENDS OF REINSTEIN WOODS IMPROVES WOODLAND GARDEN

Buffalo, NY – Friends of Reinstein Woods has received a $20,717 grant from the Environmental Protection Fund’s Park and Trail Partnership Grants program to enable visitor access and improve habitats in the Woodland Garden Enclosure at Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve.  On Saturday, May 3, more than 20 volunteers made improvements to the enclosure as part of I Love My Park Day. 

“The Woodland Garden enhances the forest ecosystem while providing opportunities for learning and public enjoyment,” said Friends Board President Daniel Haeusser. “We are thrilled that this grant will help us complete the next phase of this important project.”   

Reinstein Woods’ 2021 Forest Management Plan warned that the severe pressure from deer predation is damaging the forest. In 2023, the Friends received a grant from Parks & Trails New York to erect a deer fence around about an acre of land, creating the Woodland Garden Enclosure.  

The 2025 grant will provide special gates so trail visitors can access the enclosure while keeping out deer. Inside, raised garden beds, constructed by teens from Cheektowaga High School, will provide a safe space to grow a variety of native wildflowers that normally would not survive being eaten by the large deer population at Reinstein Woods. Shrubs and other native wild plants will be added along a footpath. Benches and educational signs will provide opportunities for visitors to reflect and enjoy the peaceful setting. The Woodland Garden also provides opportunities for local students to study and learn about the forest ecosystem. 

During I Love My Park Day on May 3, volunteers from Daemen University’s Tennis Team and Friends of Reinstein Woods reinforced portions of the fence, cleared the future footpath path of debris, and cleared the area where the raised garden beds will be installed. The path and gates are expected to be completed by late 2025.  

The grant is one of 28 awards totaling $1.8 million for organizations dedicated to the stewardship and promotion of New York’s state parks and historic sites, trails, and public lands. 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.  

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 public. We also support stewardship projects designed to protect and restore the natural habitats at Reinstein Woods.  

More information on Park and Trail Partnership Grants can be found at www.ptny.org or by calling 518-434-1583 x3. 

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