OSSINING, N.Y. — Teatown Lake Reservation is going to become more accessible and enhance its educational facilities thanks to a grant from New York State.
In a press release, State Sen. Pete Harckham and Assemblymember Dana Levenberg said they secured $500,000 in the FY2025-26 state budget for ADA-accessible renovations and a new education center.
“Teatown offers a wide array of enjoyable and educational experiences that help us relate to our natural world,” Harckham said. “Their newly redesigned campus with ADA trails will make the campus truly accessible to people of all abilities, and a new educational facility will help expand programming opportunities. I am proud to partner with Assemblymember Levenberg and work with the organization’s leadership to secure state funding for this ambitious initiative. We need to keep supporting Teatown so people of all ages can see and appreciate the wonders of nature here.”
“Teatown is a vital resource in our community to help individuals and families get outside and learn to be lifelong stewards of the environment,” Levenberg said. “I am so pleased that we were able to approve $500,000 in this year's Environmental Protection Fund to support the construction of their new education center and accessible trails. My family and I have enjoyed all that Teatown has to offer for many years, and this funding will allow Teatown to expand their reach to more people, regardless of their financial and physical abilities. Additionally, I was happy to commit $125,000 in capital funding to this effort—these combined state funds will go a long way to bringing this fantastic project to fruition.”
The $500,000 allocation is from the New York State Environmental Protection Fund. Teatown’s campus renovation and education building plan will transform its 1,000-acre preserve into an accessible, modern, sustainable and inclusive space for both public use and educational programs.
Renovation plans include a safe, walkable ADA-accessible campus. Paved parking areas will be replaced with native meadows, nature play areas, rain gardens and accessible walking paths to enhance biodiversity and climate resilience. Upgraded, ADA-compliant eco-friendly trails will also be created throughout the campus.
The project includes a new ADA-accessible education building powered by geothermal energy. The structure will feature three classrooms, open spaces and a green roof designed for informal learning and public use.
In addition to the state funding, Teatown is actively fundraising for the project through individual donations and foundation support.
“Senator Harckham and Assemblymember Levenberg know how crucial it is to build ecological awareness in our citizens of all ages and backgrounds,” said Kevin Carter, Teatown’s executive director. “Their support comes at a time when Teatown is doubling down on its mission ‘to inspire our community to lifelong environmental stewardship’ on our physical campus and in our science-based programs.”
“We are exceedingly grateful to Assemblymember Levenberg and Senator Harckham for this funding,” said Marcia Saunders, chair of Teatown’s board of trustees. “It enables us to make historic investments in Teatown’s ADA-accessible campus renovation and dramatically enhance and improve this vital community asset. This project will ensure that Teatown continues to serve as a destination for the community to gather, engage in study and find renewal in nature.”
Article courtesy of Senator Pete Harckham's office
