The Bannerman Castle Trust has been awarded a $27,450 matching grant from New York state to support infrastructure improvements on Pollepel Island, including unveiling a previously hidden architectural feature known as “The Grotto.”
The grant, awarded through the Environmental Protection Fund’s Parks and Trails Partnership Grants program, will fund a project connecting the island’s existing Red Trail to The Grotto and improving visitor access to the Wee Bay area, which offers southern views toward West Point. The upgrades are designed to enhance the overall visitor experience while improving accessibility for individuals with impaired mobility.
“Parks & Trails NY has been a vital partner to the Trust,” said Neil Caplan, executive director of the Bannerman Castle Trust. “With $297,550 in total support over the years, their funding has been instrumental in our mission to preserve and stabilize the island’s historic structures.”
The Bannerman Castle Trust is one of 27 organizations statewide to receive funding this year as part of the program, which distributed $2.25 million in grants. Now in its 10th year, the initiative is administered by Parks & Trails New York in partnership with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
“This year’s record-breaking awards ensure that vital sites like Bannerman Island continue to educate, inspire and warmly welcome all who visit,” said Paul Steely White, executive director of Parks & Trails New York.
Founded in 1994, the Bannerman Castle Trust serves as the official friends group for Pollepel Island. The organization has raised millions of dollars to preserve the island and maintain it as a leading educational and cultural destination in the Hudson Valley.
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