Red Hook board backs Greenway pedestrian plan application and small park grants

The Village of Red Hook voted on April 13 to apply for two local grants to advance pedestrian and park planning.

Greenway planning grant: The board authorized a grant application to the Hudson River Valley Greenway for $15,000 to produce a prioritized plan to improve the pedestrian experience in the village center. The Greenway program required specific application language and a village match equal to or greater than the grant request; trustees approved submitting the application and using unrestricted fund balance for a one‑time match if successful. The plan would identify high‑priority, phased projects and make the village more competitive for follow‑on capital grants.

Abraham Park request: The board also endorsed a request to the Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley for up to $15,000 in donor‑directed funds to support a summer planning intern (landscape‑architecture focus) and initial civil‑engineering work to evaluate a possible parking lot at Richard M. Abraham Memorial Park. The proposed engineering work would require coordination with DEC because of nearby wetlands; the grants are non‑matching, so award decisions would not obligate local match funds.

Why it matters: A prioritized pedestrian plan helps the village prepare competitive grant applications for sidewalks, crossings and streetscape improvements, and a funded study of park parking is an important early step for a small capital project. Trustees said the initiatives support long‑running planning goals and could unlock state and private funding for implementation.

What’s next: Staff will finalize application language and files required by the Greenway program and submit the Greenway and Community Foundations applications. If awarded, the board will return for formal acceptance of grant terms and any required contract approvals.