Funds Will Help Restore Stone Tables at Letchworth

The Friends of Letchworth State Park have been awarded $50,700 to restore and preserve 18 iconic Civilian Conservation Corps-built stone tables at the Wolf Creek and eddys picnic areas.

Funding comes from New York State through the Park and Trail Partnership Grants program. Overall, statewide, $900,000 were awarded in grants to support 30 nonprofit organizations involved with stewardship of state parks, trails, historic sites and public lands.

The Park and Trail Partnership Grants program is funded through the state Environmental Protection Fund. The grants support partner group efforts to raise private funds for capital projects, perform maintenance and beautification undertakings, provide educational programming, and promote public use of the parks through hosting of special events.

Grants are administered in partnership with the nonprofit advocacy group Parks & Trails New York. Recipients must raise outside funding of at least 10 percent of the grant amount received.

Grants are aimed at initiatives that enhance the preservation, stewardship, interpretation, maintenance and promotion of state parks, trails, historic sites and public lands; increase the sustainability, effectiveness, productivity, volunteerism and fundraising capabilities of nonprofit organizations that promote, maintain and support state parks, trails and state historic sites and public lands and; promote the tourism and economic development benefits of outdoor recreation through the growth and expansion of a connected statewide network of parks, trails and greenways.