On July 17, 2014, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation invites the community and media to view various improvements to Taconic State Park completed last month.

The $1.1 million dollar project was funded through Governor Cuomo’s New York Works program. The multi-faceted project includes paving the park’s deteriorating entrance road; culvert replacement; replacing the crumbling parking lot pavement with environmentally-friendly porous pavers, now allowing storm water to seep through and filter before releasing into Ore Pit Pond; replacing the old parking lot with an open lawn for picnicking and recreation; and improving the area surrounding the new lot with landscaping, an overlook area with seating, and a new pedestrian pathway to Ore Pit Pond, separating pedestrians from drivers as they access the part of the Park popular for swimming and fishing.

“Before” photos will be on display at Thursday’s event. After a speaking portion, a stone commemorating the Park will be unveiled with help from Park partners.

Taconic State Park is the latest State Park to unveil environmentally friendly infrastructure enhancements, following green parking lots and efforts at Franklin D. Roosevelt and Hudson Highlands State Parks in Westchester County, and Mills Norrie State Park in Dutchess County.

Launched by Governor Cuomo in 2012, New York Works is advancing $421 million in repair and improvement projects at 109 state parks and historic sites across the state, including multiple facilities in the Taconic Region.

New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation maintains and operates 180 state parks and 35 historic sites. For more information on any of these recreation areas, call 518-474-0456 or visit www.nysparks.com, connect on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.