Otsego Land Trust Awarded a Preserve New York Grant
This grant will fund a condition report on historic features at Brookwood Point in Cooperstown, New York.
COOPERSTOWN, NY, 08/01/23 — Otsego Land Trust is one of this year’s Preserve New York (PNY) grantees. Their grant of $14,780 will fund structural analysis and condition assessments of historic features at Brookwood Point, a public access property on the west side of Otsego Lake. The Preservation League of NYS and their program partners at the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) are thrilled to help fund this important work.
“We are delighted to be partnering with the Preservation League of New York State to address the weathering of historic features at Brookwood Point,” said Gregory Farmer, Executive Director at Otsego Land Trust. “Brookwood Point is our flagship property, the most visible and most accessible of our six public properties.”
Brookwood Point’s historic gardens, stone walls, lake and hillside views, and Arts-and-Crafts-style Garden House make it a wonderful place to gather and celebrate. The historic Garden House, the Icehouse, the Pump House, the stone walls, and the three fountains are more than a century old and show the effects of weathering and winter storms. The analysis and report will support fundraising for capital repairs. The study will also consider how to improve public amenities while maintaining the “secret garden” atmosphere.
Otsego Land Trust will use the findings from this structural analysis and condition report to understand the scope of repair and restoration on the key features of the property. The detailed professional analysis, conducted by Crawford & Stearns / Architects and Preservation Planners, PLLC and Forbes Engineering, will lay the groundwork for future stabilization and repair.
At its 2023 meeting, an independent grant panel selected 19 applicants in 17 counties to receive support totaling $279,936. Each grant supports important arts and cultural initiatives, as well as economic development related to our state’s arts and cultural heritage. Many of these grants will lead to historic district designation or expansion, telling the stories of communities throughout the state and allowing property owners to take advantage of the New York State and Federal Historic Tax Credits. With the announcement of the 2023 awards, support provided by Preserve New York since its launch in 1993 totals more than $3.7 million to 529 projects statewide.
The Preserve New York program is a regrant partnership between the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) and the Preservation League, made possible with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. The Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation has generously provided additional funds to support nonprofit projects in Nassau and Suffolk Counties.
Since 1993, Preserve New York has been providing funds to municipalities and nonprofit organizations that need technical, professional assistance to guide a variety of preservation projects. The building condition reports, cultural landscape reports, and cultural resource surveys funded through this program lead to positive outcomes across New York’s 62 counties.
2023 PNY Grant Recipients:
Albany County: Shaker Heritage Society, $20,000 | Cattaraugus County: Leon Historical Society, $6,720 | Chautauqua County: Patterson Library, $16,000 | Essex County: Fort Ticonderoga Association, $18,800 | Franklin County: Harrietstown, $13,600 | Green County: Hudson-Athens Lighthouse Preservation Society, $20,008 | Livingston County: Village on Nunda, $12,980 | Madison County: Oneida Community Mansion House, $18,940 | Monroe County: Connected Communities / Beechwood Neighborhood Coalition, $20,000 | Nassau County: Long Beach Historical & Preservation Society, $7,876 | New York County: Historic Districts Council, $16,000 | Orange County: The Fullerton, $12,000 | Otsego County: Otsego Land Trust, $14,780 | Suffolk County: The Center for Environmental Education and Discovery, $10,632; Wainscott Heritage Project, $14,400 | Ulster County: The Center for Photography at Woodstock, $14,000; Village of New Paltz, $14,000 | Warren County: Silver Bay YMCA, $11,200 | Westchester County: Historic Hudson Valley, $18,000
“The breadth of these projects across our state will safeguard the rich and diverse history of New York for generations to come,” said Mara Manus, Executive Director of NYSCA. “We applaud the Preservation League of New York State for this critical preservation program. From all of us at NYSCA, a hearty congratulations to the grantees and our gratitude for the essential work you do.”
“This year’s Preserve New York grant cycle was one of the most competitive in the program’s history,” said Jay DiLorenzo, President of the Preservation League of NYS. “The 19 projects funded truly rose to the top and represent a great cross-section of historic resources found across the state. From a Shaker Washhouse upstate to the Little Caribbean neighborhood in Brooklyn, each project helps tell the story of New York’s rich history.”
About the Preservation League of New York State
Since its founding in 1974, the Preservation League has built a reputation for action and effectiveness. Our goal has been to preserve our historic buildings, districts, and landscapes and to build a better New York, one community at a time. The Preservation League of New York State invests in people and projects that champion the essential role of preservation in community revitalization, sustainable economic growth and the protection of our historic buildings and landscapes. We lead advocacy, economic development, and education programs across the state.
Connect with us at preservenys.org, facebook.com/preservenys, twitter.com/preservenys, and instagram.com/preservenys, and youtube.com/c/PreservationLeague.
Otsego Land Trust
Otsego Land Trust is a community-based nonprofit working to improve the quality of life throughout the Upper Susquehanna region by joining with landowners and partners to protect and conserve more than 12,000 acres of local farmland, forests, and waterways in perpetuity. Brookwood Point is one of six Otsego Land Trust properties open for public enjoyment of nature.
Contacts:
Gregory Farmer, Executive Director, Otsego Land Trust, gfarmer@otsegolandtrust.org
Katy Peace, Director of Communications, Preservation League of NYS, kpeace@preservenys.org