New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Amanda Lefton today announced more than $677,000 Catskill Park Community Smart Growth Grant awards to seven smart growth projects benefiting the region. The funded initiatives will support the region renowned for connecting visitors to nature by improving and expanding recreation opportunities, addressing affordable housing needs, improving accessibility and safety issues, and supporting comprehensive planning efforts. 

"The Catskill Park is home to vibrant communities that play a crucial role in protecting globally significant landscapes,” said Commissioner Lefton. “DEC’s Smart Growth grants represent a vital investment in our communities, fostering sustainable development, economic prosperity, and enhanced quality of life for all New Yorkers, while safeguarding the natural resources that make the Catskills such a special place to live, work, and visit.”

Smart growth is an approach to community planning and development which promotes land use in a way that creates livable, sustainable, and equitable communities. Smart growth can provide the right balance between development and preservation, promoting several land-use planning principles like the renewal of land use patterns that once came naturally in the Adirondack and Catskill parks. 

Today’s funding announcement complements years of State action to support smart growth planning and the implementation of sustainable projects. This includes projects like the recently completed parking area and new accessible connector trail for visitors to the Peekamoose Blue Hole, which will promote safe and sustainable visitation. 

New York Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley said, “From hamlet revitalization to accessible outdoor recreation and affordable housing, Smart Growth has contributed greatly to the vitality and vibrancy of the communities in this magnificent park. With these awards, our longstanding partnership with DEC in advancing Smart Growth planning and development will continue to yield economic, social and environmental benefits throughout the Catskill park for residents, businesses and visitors. The NYS Department of State looks forward to enhancing this partnership through our own Smart Growth programs, including Smart Growth Community Planning, Downtown Revitalization Initiative, NY Forward, Brownfield Opportunity Area and Local waterfront Revitalization Program.” 

Smart Growth Grants 

DEC’s Smart Growth Grant program supports capital projects and community development initiatives that link environmental protection, economic development, and community livability within the special protective conditions of the Forest Preserve. 

The seven Catskill region awardees receiving a total of $677,294 include: 

Projects addressing affordable housing needs: 

Orange/Sullivan County

• Community Foundation of Orange County: $98,433–Partnering with the Town of Rockland to develop affordable housing through an innovative program called the Catskills Community Land Trust. Funding will support land acquisition, site preparation, and designs to lay the groundwork for planning an affordable, green, two-family rental home. The project brings together underutilized land, a commitment to environmental sustainability and climate resiliency, and a team of diverse and capable community members with a goal of improving housing access for local working families.

Projects focusing on recreation, environment, sustainable economic growth and other smart growth priorities: 

Delaware County

• Town of Middletown: $50,000–This project will fund a feasibility study for the Town of Middletown to assess the viability of implementing a cluster septic system and connecting it to existing wastewater collection systems in the hamlets of Clovesville and Kelly Corners. Engineering services will evaluate technical options, projected costs, environmental impacts, and logistical considerations. The goal is to provide the Town with a clear understanding of the steps and resources required to move forward, enabling informed decision-making about future infrastructure investments that support smart growth and protect water quality.

Greene County

• Town of Prattsville: $123,141–The project seeks to capitalize on the recent improvements to the park trail system by extending the Main Street sidewalk to connect to a currently underutilized park entrance. New sidewalks compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) will enhance safe access to the park by relieving parking congestion at the primary entrance. The sidewalk extension will connect three town attractions: Main Street, Pratt Rock Park, and the Schoharie Creek Barrier Dam. The existing trail within the park will be reseeded and enhanced with eastern hemlock tree plantings, which hold historical significance to the town.  

• Village of Tannersville: $125,000–The Gooseberry Creek Revitalization Strategy Implementation Project will help design upgrades to the Gooseberry Creek watershed, including parklands owned by the Village of Tannersville around Rip Van Winkle Lake. The proposed project, Phase 6A, includes floating walking paths in two locations to connect Upper Lake Park to the Huckleberry Rail Trail, which is part of the Hunter Regional Trail Network. It also includes the installation of two fountains in Rip Van Winkle Lake to improve the water quality and circulation.

Ulster County

• RUPCO: $118,250—This award will replace a pedestrian bridge over Alton Creek that will lead to a vegetated park area at 310 Main Street in the Hamlet of Pine Hill. This important infrastructure is part of The Wellington Restoration Project’s overall landscaping and green space plan. The Wellington Restoration Project will add affordable housing to the hamlet, as well as a community food market. The bridge will allow residents and visitors to cross the creek via a pedestrian trail and access a patio seating space. 

• Town of Shandaken: $100,000—The grant supports the development of a comprehensive plan for town zoning. Within 20–22 months, the Town expects to adopt the new zoning code based on the smart growth goals and other changes added to an upcoming new comprehensive plan.  

Multi-County (Greene, Ulster, and Delaware)

• Catskill Center for Conservation and Development: $62,467—This project will improve accessibility at the Catskills Visitor Center (CVC) through the installation of a new, ADA-accessible trail. The CVC is designated as a DEC Accessible Recreation Destination, with an accessible building and hiking trail (the Interpretive Loop Trail). 

This is a three-part project that includes the design of two trails that connect the main CVC building to the existing 0.5-mile accessible Interpretive Loop Trail; the construction of two ADA -accessible trails from the building west and the sidewalk east to provide a safe and accessible path from the building to the Interpretive Loop Trail; and the installation of new interpretive signage along these trails to guide and educate visitors. 

The grants announced today are supported by the State's Environmental Protection Fund (EPF). Governor Hochul’s 2026–27 Executive Budget proposes a record $425 million for the EPF, a critical resource for environmental programs such as land acquisition, farmland protection, invasive species prevention and eradication, recreation access, water quality improvement, and environmental justice projects. The Executive Budget also continues to support New York’s Forest Preserve with $8 million to the Catskill and Adirondack parks for sustainability and stewardship projects, as well as funding for locally important initiatives including $250,000 for the Catskill Center for Conservation and Development, with other highlights including a historic $3.75 billion five-year commitment to clean water.

Additional Smart Growth grant award announcements Adirondack Park projects are forthcoming. 

For further detail on the grants awarded and information on smart growth planning and implementation activity within the Catskill Park, visit DEC’s website.