Catskill Center Receives Grant to Enhance Interpretation and Accessibility

ARKVILLE — The Catskill Center for Conservation and Development was awarded a $31,033 matching grant from the Environmental Protection Fund’s Park and Trail Partnership Grants program to improve accessibility and visitor experience at the Congressman Maurice D. Hinchey Catskills Visitor Center. The project will update and replace aging signage with a new entrance kiosk, enhanced interpretive signage along trail systems, an outdoor television providing orientation, stewardship, and safety information, and Adirondack chairs that invite the community to gather and enjoy the landscape outside of regular hours. The Catskill Center will contribute an additional $4,486 in matching funds to reach a total of $35,519 for the project.

The grant is one of 27 awards totaling $2.25 million for organizations dedicated to the stewardship and promotion of New York’s state parks and historic sites, trails, and public lands. The grants will be matched with private and local funding and will support projects to strengthen Friends groups and enhance public access and recreational opportunities. 

Friends groups—nonprofit organizations often made up entirely of volunteers—are essential to the stewardship and promotion of our state park system. These dedicated groups raise private funds for capital projects, perform maintenance tasks, provide educational programming, and promote public use through hosting special events. 

The Park and Trail Partnership Grants program, celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, is administered by Parks & Trails New York, a statewide non-profit organization, in partnership with the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation and the Department of Environmental Conservation. 

Parks & Trails New York Executive Director Paul Steely White said, “New Yorkers statewide are experiencing the benefits of restored trails, enhanced visitor centers, and engaging programs that foster a deeper connection with the outdoors. For the past decade, Park and Trail Partnership Grants have been instrumental in making these experiences possible by supporting the dedicated local organizations that steward our public lands. This year's record-breaking awards will ensure that these vital sites continue to educate, inspire, and warmly welcome all who visit.”

This project addresses a critical first point of contact for visitors and residents entering at the Catskills Visitor Center, ensuring they receive clear, accurate, and welcoming information from the moment they arrive. Updating outdated and damaged signage will eliminate confusion, guide visitors to the full range of resources available, and provide essential orientation and safety information for recreating responsibly in the 700,000-acre Catskill Park, where wilderness conditions and limited cell service can pose challenges. New interpretive panels will deepen understanding of the region’s natural and cultural history, while improved accessibility features such as multilingual and audio content will expand who can benefit from these resources. Together, these improvements strengthen the Catskills Visitor Center’s role as a trusted, inclusive gateway that connects people to nature, to the Catskills community, and to the knowledge needed to protect both visitors and the landscape.

Jeff Senterman, Executive Director of the Catskill Center, said, “By improving how information is shared at the Catskills Visitor Center, we’re helping people start their experience in the Catskills informed, prepared, and connected to the landscape. This investment supports safer recreation, a deeper sense of place, and a stronger relationship between the community and the region we’re working to protect.”