Scenic Hudson

Scenic Hudson is a not-for-profit environmental organization in New York that protects land, creates and enhances parks, and advocates for environmentally responsible policies and development practices.[1]

History

Scenic Hudson was founded as the Scenic Hudson Preservation Conference on November 8, 1963, when Hudson Valley residents organized to save Storm King Mountain from being transformed into a pumped-storage hydroelectric plant. The organization successfully mounted the Scenic Hudson Preservation Conference v. Federal Power Commission court case, which saved the mountain and, for the first time, gave U.S. citizens legal standing to challenge development proposals on environmental grounds. Known as "The Scenic Hudson Decision," the case became a cornerstone of environmental law in the United States, and is widely credited with launching the modern environmental movement.[2]

After the Storm King Mountain case, Scenic Hudson gained more visibility, and began working with other local communities to protect important natural resources and adopt sound environmental policies. The Chairman of the organization is David Redden.[3]

Current projects
Hiking trails at Black Creek Preserve, one of Scenic Hudson's parks, in Esopus

The organization has three major focus area: Protecting land, creating and enhancing parks and preserves, and advocating for environmentally responsible policies and development outcomes.[4]

Land

Working primarily along the Hudson River between New York City and Albany, the organization acquires land and conservation easements to create parks and preserves, protect lands of high scenic and ecological importance, and conserve farmland.. Much of its land protection work is completed in partnership with private landowners, local land trusts, and local, state, and federal public agencies. Land and conservation easements are typically acquired and held by Scenic Hudson's affiliate organization, The Scenic Hudson Land Trust, Inc. The organizations have protected over 31,000 acres in nine counties . In 2011, the organization received the Land Trust Alliance's National Land Trust Excellence Award.[5]

Parks

Scenic Hudson has created and enhanced more than 60 parks, preserves, and historic sites. In addition to owning and maintaining its own parks and preserves for public enjoyment; in this work .[6]

Land-Use

Scenic Hudson works with municipalities and other environmental organizations to connect the public with the Hudson River, improve water quality, encourage responsible development practices, and revitalize urban waterfronts. In 2010, the organization published an award-winning handbook, Revitalizing Hudson Riverfronts, which provides guidance for balancing conservation and development goals on urban waterfronts.[7] More recently, it launched a series of taskforces to help riverfront communities adapt to climate change-induced sea level rise. The organization also works with the Hudson Valley Smart Growth Alliance.[8]

Revitalizing Downtown Poughkeepsie

In 2020, Scenic Hudson along with other local partners acquired two old manufacturing buildings and properties in the city of Poughkeepsie.[9] The acquisition is a part of a bigger project slowly underway by Scenic Hudson to revitalize the city’s Northside neighborhood. The spaces will likely be used for office spaces, “parkland,” and public gathering spaces. Another element of the project slightly farther along is the Pershing Avenue Neighborhood Farm, which construction started on in Fall 2020. The farm will consist of a quarter acre plot, with half being used for educational purposes, and all food grown will be distributed through Dutchess Outreach, another local non-profit organization. The second half will act as a community garden where community members can rent out space.[10] The hope is that the farm will give the community safer spaces to be outside, as well as a food supply.

The Pershing Avenue Neighborhood Farm is a part of a response to the status of the city of Poughkeepsie as a food desert. A 2014 study found that one in four households in Poughkeepsie was food insecure.[11] This statistic was the same for access to a car, which has been proven to impact food security. Today there are only three accessible food stores within the city limits, two of which are on the outskirts and may be difficult to access without reliable transportation. In 2018 Dutchess Outreach Fresh Market distributed 8,000 pounds of food grown in the Hudson Valley region, and the Pershing Avenue Farm will provide an additional stream of local food to that critical source.[12] Additionally, in encouraging local residents to learn to grow their own food, the hope is that there will be a further increase in accessibility to healthy food. Local councilwoman Yvonne Flowers was quoted as saying that the farm could have a “life saving impact” on health, well being, and food security.

While Scenic Hudson has been a critical actor in this project, a number of other organizations in the area have been instrumental. These include Cornell Cooperative Extension, Nubian Directions, Dutchess Outreach, Poughkeepsie Farm Project, Poughkeepsie Alliance, and the City of Poughkeepsie. Additionally, press releases from Scenic Hudson indicate that they will continue to work with community members for insights on planning. All of these moving parts are instrumental in ensuring a grassroots, sustainable approach to revitalizing the dilapidated downtown area.

Public policy

Scenic Hudson has helped establish and advance numerous environmental initiatives, including the Hudson River Estuary Program, the New York State Coastal Management Program, the Hudson River Valley Greenway, the Clean Water Act, the Hudson Valley Community Preservation Act and the National Heritage Area Designation, and the Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve, a National Estuarine Research Reserve, created and managed in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Scenic Hudson is currently working with other environmental organizations to facilitate the removal of polychlorinated biphenyl materials from the Hudson River.[13]

Conservation Partners

See also

References
  1. Feifel, Kirsten. "Scenic Hudson Land Trust: Prioritizing Lands in Light of Sea Level Rise". Climate Adoption Knowledge and Exchange. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
  2. "The Scenic Hudson Decision". Marist Environmental History Project. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
  3. Roger Stone (2012). Mightier Hudson: The Spirited Revival of a Treasured Landscape. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 52. ISBN 9780762784844.
  4. "Our Mission". Scenic Hudson. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  5. "Scenic Hudson Receives National Land Trust Excellence Award". Land Trust Alliance. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  6. "Parks". Scenic Hudson. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  7. Eisenman, Theodore, ed. (2010). "Revitalizing Hudson Riverfronts" (PDF). Scenic Hudson, Inc. ISBN 978-0615381626. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
  8. "Hudson Valley Smart Growth Alliance". sustainable.org. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
  9. "Derelict Poughkeepsie Properties Acquired by Scenic Hudson Affiliate". Scenic Hudson. 2020-06-30. Retrieved 2020-11-19.
  10. "Construction Begins on City of Poughkeepsie Farm". Scenic Hudson. 2020-10-21. Retrieved 2020-11-19.
  11. Leonard, Nevarez; Grove, Susan; Tobin, KT; Simons, Joshua (Winter 2014). "Poughkeepsie Plenty: A Community Food Assessment" (PDF). SUNY New Paltz.
  12. "Poughkeepsie is a Food Desert". Marist Circle. Retrieved 2020-11-19.
  13. "Public Policy". Scenic Hudson. Archived from the original on 2013-10-19. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
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