Ceremony Celebrates Reunited Roosevelt Family Properties

(HYDE PARK, New York) - Officials from the National Park Service (NPS) and Scenic Hudson led a ceremony today celebrating the transfer of a large parcel of land to the NPS to be added to the FDR National Historic Site. The wooded 334-acre parcel contains the historic farm lane that links the Roosevelt home Springwood and Eleanor Roosevelt's Val-Kill. Once again visitors will experience the property as the Roosevelts did and connect with land that was very personal to one of America's great families.

Speaking for the NPS, Sarah Olson, park superintendent, said, "This addition is significant in many ways. Perhaps most importantly, it will allow people to again experience the Roosevelt home, Val-Kill and Top Cottage as part of one historic estate. We salute Scenic Hudson for making the reunification of the historic properties possible. These lands are also host to some of the finest remnants of FDR's forestry activities and will help us share that story with our visitors. We anticipate seeing more visitors and increasing the site's cultural and economic contribution to Hyde Park and the region."

LAND TRANSFER TO AID VITAL TOURISM ECONOMY
According to a recent data from Hudson Valley Tourism, the tourism industry in 2006 in the 10-county region employed 58,000 people and took in $4.5 billion in spending by visitors. Dutchess County Tourism reports that based on a 2005 study, the county's tourism industry generates more than $28.9 million in local taxes, employs more than 9,938 people to serve travelers who spend more than $447 million per year in the county.

Steve Rosenberg, executive vice president of Scenic Hudson, spoke about the economic contribution the new Roosevelt land will make. "This stunning property adds another great reason to visit one of the region's leading attractions and others near to it. People aren't as likely to visit a historic place that's surrounded by sprawling development. That's why we've invested so much in Hyde Park, and we're gratified that residents will benefit from the land even if they never hike it."

Mr. Rosenberg also highlighted another financial gain for the public through transfer of the property to the NPS. "Scenic Hudson paid $1.6 million for the parcel, which has since appreciated in value. By selling it to the NPS for $1 million, the public enjoys a substantial savings," he added.

Hyde Park Supervisor Pompey Delafield shared the enthusiasm. "This is a first and important step in advancing the town's tourism economic development goals through dynamic partnerships with Scenic Hudson, the National Park Service and the Hudson River Valley National Heritage area," he said. "We're turning an economically underperforming property into an asset with real destination value that can benefit our community. It's also great that the land will give residents and school groups a wonderful place to walk and experience nature."

During the past several years, Scenic Hudson and the NPS have worked with the Town of Hyde Park and the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area to shape plans for this parcel as part of the Hyde Park Regional Center project. This consists of two phases, the first of which is marked by the sale of this 334-acre property to the NPS and development of a restored Roosevelt Farm Lane. The follow-up phase will involve turning the adjacent Hyde Park Drive-In, owned by Scenic Hudson, into a regional tourism center with tourism-based development.

During the ceremony the NPS outlined future improvements planned for the property. A restored Roosevelt Farm Lane will open in 2008. This will feature a widening and improving the existing trail to be more in keeping with its appearance during FDR's life. In addition to offering hiking and biking, a farm lane shuttle will provide transportation for visitors.

LOCAL STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN CEREMONY
Kristen Meade, age 19 of Hopewell Junction and a 2004 participant in the Eleanor Roosevelt Girls' Leadership Workshop, helped plant a tree on the historic property to commemorate the occasion. Joining her was class of 2006 workshop participant Michelle Grimaldi, age 16, from Hyde Park.

Jennifer Triplett, director of the workshop, said, "Scenic Hudson's effort to preserve the land linking Val-Kill to Springwood is a wonderful gift for our region and for the Girls' Leadership Workshop program. As one of our community service projects, the Eleanor Roosevelt Center already has been helping restore the trail. We're really excited about future connections to the land that was so much a part of Eleanor Roosevelt's life. On this memorable day, I'm reminded of Mrs. Roosevelt's words, 'conservation of land and conservation of people frequently go hand-in-hand.' We're very thankful for Scenic Hudson's conservation efforts."

PROPERTY ONCE CENTER OF PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT'S FAMILY ESTATE
Located between routes 9 and 9G, the land once was home to tree plantations personally developed by FDR  a fitting tie to April 27 being Arbor Day. Later the property was the site of Val-Kill Farms, operated by Eleanor Roosevelt and son Elliott. The land eventually came to be privately owned by a commercial real estate developer before Scenic Hudson's 2004 purchase. The parcel itself contains a diverse mix of farm fields, hardwood forests, wetlands and streams.

Speaking about what this land and Hyde Park meant to FDR, Dr. David Woolner, a professor and Roosevelt historian at nearby Marist College, said the impacts of both were strong. "FDR's relationship to Hyde Park and the Hudson Valley was a profound one that helped form his world view. His relationship with the community in Hyde Park formed the basis of his relationship with the nation and the world. He saw the nation as a community and the world as a community, and he formed that world vision through his experience in Hyde Park."

ABOUT THE HOME OF FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE
The Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site, established in 1944, preserves the life-long estate of the 20th century's only four-term, and arguably most influential U.S. president. Both Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt are buried in the Memorial Rose Garden. The site includes FDR's retirement retreat Top Cottage. The Roosevelt Home is administered by the National Park Service as are the Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site and the Vanderbilt Mansion, also in Hyde Park. www.nps.gov/hofr/