(Herkimer County, NY – May 2013) Parks & Trails New York, a statewide parks and trails advocacy organization, has announced the winners of its 2013 Park & Trail Recognition Awards. The awards recognize the leadership, creativity, and donation of time, talent, and materials behind many of New York’s parks and trails.
Herkimer County HealthNet will be receiving the Get Outdoors Award for their commitment to developing and maintaining trails and playgrounds, which encourages physical activity throughout Herkimer County. “This is an honor to be recognized by Parks & Trails New York for the work that we do. It’s important that we continue to work on projects with many partnerships that help to serve our mission: to promote the health and well-being of individuals that work, play, and learn in Herkimer County.”
“Volunteers, local businesses, governments, and not for profits all across New York are the driving forces behind our state’s extensive trails network. These significant efforts rarely receive the recognition they so richly deserve. We are pleased to celebrate these contributions with our 2013 Park & Trail Awards,” commented Parks & Trails New York Executive Director Robin Dropkin.
Herkimer County HealthNet, incorporated in 1990 is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization that works with health professionals, municipalities, government officials, other non-profit organizations, and businesses that are interested in making Herkimer County a healthier county for its residents.
Parks & Trails New York is the leading statewide advocate for parks and trails, dedicated since 1985 to improving the health and quality of life of all New Yorkers by working with community organizations and municipalities to envision, create, promote, and protect a growing network of parks, greenways and trails throughout the state for all to use and enjoy.
Parks & Trails New York will hold the Award Ceremony on Tuesday, June 11 in room 711A of the Legislative Office Building in Albany from 1:30 to 2:30pm. A special thanks to Assemblywoman Patricia Fahy and her staff – their hospitality helped make the event possible.
Park and Trail Awardees for 2013 include:
Corporate Partnership
– Ned Chapman, proprietor of Sunnyside Gardens, for establishing the New York’s Flower Power’s Plants for Parks Program and for Sunnyside’s years of commitment to the entry gardens at Saratoga Spa State Park.
Sunnyside Nursery has contributed to the beautiful entry gardens at Saratoga Spa State Park for many years, but in 2012 Ned Chapman, proprietor of Sunnyside, established New York’s Flower Power’s Plants for Parks Program. Chapman has enlisted area growers to donate plants and flowers to add beauty to many state parks and historic sites in the Saratoga Region.
– Six Flags Great Escape volunteers for their effort to restore the Village of Granville’s D&H Rail Trail after Hurricane Irene.
Ninety Six Flags Great Escape team members partnered with the Village of Granville’s Slate Valley Museum to renovate the D&H Rail Trail and the park surrounding the Slate Museum after Hurricane Irene’s destruction. They also constructed 300 feet of new trail connecting the rail trail to the museum and the village’s Library and Pember Museum.
Volunteer Service
– Edgar Masters, for his commitment to designing and creating an appropriate cover for Taconic State Park’s massive blast furnace, the centerpiece of the park’s historic Copake Iron Works.
Edgar Masters used his considerable talents and hundreds of man hours to design and construct an appropriate cover for a massive blast furnace, the centerpiece of the park’s historic Copake Iron Works. Edgar was the driving force that propelled the project forward from drawing board to a real building.
– Anne Bergantz, for her years of unwavering and inspirational efforts to build support for the 27-mile Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail
For more than four years, Anne Bergantz has been the sparkplug and champion for railbanking a 27-mile corridor south of Buffalo and eventually converting it to the Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail. With her “never quit” attitude, she has created a friends group; addressed opposition with facts and poise; received assistance from legal and marketing professionals, and engendered support from elected officials, recreational groups, and residents of the adjoining towns.
Public Leadership
– Timothy Sullivan (posthumously), Palisades Interstate Park Commission for 66 years of dedication to parks and trails of the Hudson Valley.
For 66 years, Timothy Sullivan served as a steward and leader for several Hudson Valley parks and trails. He was actively involved in identifying thousands of acres for preservation, in creation and maintenance of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission trails and trail systems, search and rescue operations, fire control, and education. Timothy died in March 2013.
– Scott Keller, for his efforts to create, maintain, and promote the Hudson River Valley Greenway Water Trail
Scott Keller created and continues to champion the maintenance and promotion of the 256-mile Hudson River Valley Greenway Water Trail, a National Water Trail that extends from Battery Park in Manhattan to the towns of Hadley and Whitehall.
Get Outdoors
– Herkimer County Heath Net, Creating Healthy Places to Live Work and Play Program for its commitment to implementing 18 park and trail projects in Herkimer county villages and towns.
In a year’s time Herkimer County’s Creating Healthy Places program has helped implement 18 park and trail projects in county school districts, villages and towns. The program has also published guides to Herkimer County trails and physical activity options that are engaging life-long residents in new outdoor opportunities.
Outside the Box – Mark DeCracker, for leading the effort to create the Lyons Trail of Hope a quarter-mile fully accessible trail surrounded by a variety of themed gardens.
By enlisting the help of scores of volunteers, businesses, children, and community organizations, Mark DeCracker transformed a 5.5-acre dirt pile next to the Community Center in the Wayne County Village of Lyons into a quarter-mile fully accessible and inspirational trail surrounded by a variety of themed gardens. The trail has attracted hundreds of visitors, many of them with physical limitations.
For more information on Parks & Trails New York, call 518-434-1583 or visit the website at www.ptny.org.