Long Island nonprofits get grants to support state parks

Three Long Island nonprofits are getting $188,000 in grants from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to support the stewardship of state parks, trails, historic sites and public lands.

The money is part of $2.25 million in grants to 27 nonprofit organizations to help leverage private funds to support capital projects, engage in maintenance and beautification, provide educational programming, and host special events that promote public use of the parks, according to a State Parks statement.

On Long Island, the Caumsett Foundation, Inc. is getting $100,000 to restore the historic Fresh Pond Trail following a 2022 erosion study. The project aims to redirect damaging foot traffic from fragile hillsides onto the repaired historic trail, using stepped walkways, drainage systems, and an accessible path.

Friends of Orient Beach Inc. was awarded $18,000 for capacity building of the organization including strategic planning, board recruitment and development, fundraising, branding and marketing, communications, community outreach and awareness, membership, and mission focused programs.

The Planting Fields Foundation was granted $69,913 for a Service-Learning Corps that will engage three cohorts of young adults in mission-critical projects pairing hands-on stewardship with structured learning, strengthening participants’ skills and sense of belonging while delivering visible public benefits at Planting Fields and cultivating future civic leaders.