Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park Receives NYS Grant

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced in a ceremony on Thursday, April 19 that $1.8 million in Conservation Partnership Program grants had been awarded to 55 nonprofit land trusts across the State.  Representatives of the DEC and the Land Trust Alliance unveiled the grantees at an event in Skaneateles, in Onondaga County, in recognition of Earth Week, a weeklong celebration of New York's commitment and accomplishments to protecting our environment, conserving open space and increasing access to the state's vast and magnificent natural resources.  The Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park, who is celebrating its 20^th anniversary this year, received a $20,000 Capacity Building Grant.  The grant will be used to enhance its efforts in environmental education both through its public and group programs.“We are thrilled to be with such a distinguished group of organizations who have been selected to receive funding,” stated Margo Olson, Executive Director of the Preserve & Park.  “This is a huge boost to our organization and it is an affirmation that our work is recognized state-wide as being a valuable asset to our community, our region, and beyond.”The grants, funded through the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF), will leverage an additional $2.25 million in private and local funding to support projects that will protect farmland, wildlife habitat and water quality, enhance public access for outdoor recreational opportunities, and conserve priority open space areas important for community health, tourism and regional economic development. “Land trusts continue to make a difference in local communities, maximizing public and private dollars to protect and preserve our state’s natural resources for generations to come,” said Acting DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos. “Through partnerships like these, the Environmental Protection Fund provides critical support for many environmental and open space programs, generating revenue, creating jobs, and ensuring a cleaner and healthier New York.”  The Land Trust Alliance administers the Conservation Partnership Program in coordination with NYS DEC.In the Capital Region, 13 organizations received grant awards including Saratoga PLAN and the American Farmland Trust who are also based in Saratoga County.Recent research underscores how New York’s investment in land conservation and open space boosts property values, supports local businesses, saves taxpayer dollars and protects public health. A 2011 study by the Trust for Public Land found that every dollar of investment from New York’s Environmental Protection Fund generates $7 in total economic benefits from tourism, reduced government costs, and public health.For more information, please call the Preserve & Park office at 518-450-0321 or via email at info@wiltonpreserve.org.  For up-to-date trail conditions or program information, please visit the Preserve & Park’s website at www.wiltonpreserve.org The Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park is a non-profit organization that conserves ecological systems and natural settings while providing opportunities for environmental education and outdoor recreation.#