The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced $223,000 in grants for two projects aimed at improving resiliency and increasing recreational access to the Hudson River Estuary. The announcement coincides with National Estuaries Week, which highlights the importance of estuaries and their protection.
Commissioner Amada Lefton stated, “Free and inclusive public access to the Hudson River estuary is a win for residents and visitors alike. The Hudson River Estuary Program grants announced today advance planning and engineering to support implementation of affordable, accessible, and resilient recreational access to the Hudson River Estuary in Hudson and New York City. This funding also will increase access to New York’s natural resources in disadvantaged communities, allowing for better connections to nature in areas most in need.”
The City of Hudson will receive $123,000 for the “City of Hudson Furgary Fishing Village Planning” project. This initiative will complete final engineering design and regulatory reviews necessary to transform the historic Furgary Fishing Village into an accessible area for recreation and education near North Front Street and Dock Street. The project builds on previous efforts funded by Hudson’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative.
Waterfront Alliance is set to receive $100,000 for its project “Improving On-Water Access and Climate Resilience on Staten Island’s North Shore.” The organization plans to develop a community-informed strategy that revitalizes 777 Front Street on Staten Island’s North Shore. Efforts will focus on enhancing shoreline climate resilience as well as expanding public opportunities for recreation and environmental education.
These projects are part of Governor Kathy Hochul’s “Get Offline, Get Outside” campaign designed to encourage physical activity among families by promoting outdoor recreation over screen time.
Since its inception 22 years ago, DEC’s Hudson River Estuary Grants Program has awarded more than 665 grants totaling over $30.7 million. Funding comes from New York State’s Environmental Protection Fund (EPF), which supports various environmental programs including land acquisition, farmland protection, invasive species management, water quality improvement, recreation access initiatives, and environmental justice efforts.
For fiscal year 2025-26, the state budget allocates $108 million toward climate resiliency measures supporting coastal resilience efforts as well as additional Green Resiliency Grants. The Environmental Protection Fund has also been increased to a record $425 million dedicated to climate adaptation projects.
