SCENIC HUDSON RECEIVES FIVE PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS

(HUDSON VALLEY) - Scenic Hudson received five awards recently for innovative approaches and noteworthy success in preserving the land that matters most in the Hudson Valley, promoting smart economic growth, creating public parks, and connecting kids and adults with the Hudson River.

"These awards are shared with our members -- the volunteers, e-advocates and financial supporters who make our work possible. The best news is that these projects are winners for communities and the region. This is about beautiful, healthy and economically strong places along the Hudson where people can live, work and have fun enjoying our great river," said Ned Sullivan, president of Scenic Hudson.

The honors include:

THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR'S COOPERATIVE CONSERVATION AWARD
One of only a handful of Cooperative Conservation Awards presented nationwide this year, it recognizes Scenic Hudson's 2004 purchase of a 334-acre woodland between Springwood, Franklin Roosevelt's home, and Val-Kill, Eleanor Roosevelt's house, in Hyde Park. Both are properties of the National Park Service (NPS).

Once part of the Roosevelt estate, the land was threatened by development when acquired by Scenic Hudson. In April the organization sold it to the NPS for significantly less than its purchase price. The new land will allow the NPS to recreate the Roosevelt Farm Lane, a carriage trail FDR and Eleanor frequently traveled. Additional plans for the property developed by the NPS, the Town of Hyde Park and Scenic Hudson include a Hudson Valley Welcome Center, a permanent pavilion for a farmers' market and a large meadow suitable for community events.

THE WILLIAM H. "HOLLY" WHYTE AWARD
Presented by the NY Metro Chapter of the American Planning Association, it recognizes Scenic Hudson's creative initiative to "daylight" (uncover portions of) the Saw Mill River in downtown Yonkers.

At the request of former Gov. George E. Pataki, Scenic Hudson developed conceptual plans and schematics for exposing sections of this major Hudson River tributary, paved over for nearly a century, on whose banks Yonkers was founded. The organization also played a major role in securing $34 million in state funds to create a lively, commercially successful Saw Mill riverwalk. Scenic Hudson's design concepts have been incorporated into a plan for a multi-billion-dollar downtown revitalization program in Yonkers.

Scenic Hudson shares this award with Groundwork Yonkers and the City of Yonkers.

BECZAK ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER AWARD
The Beczak Environmental Education Center, located in a park Scenic Hudson helped create on the Yonkers waterfront, also is honoring the organization, Groundwork Yonkers and the City of Yonkers for their work in daylighting the Saw Mill River.

LOCUST GROVE GARDEN PARTY HONOREE
Scenic Hudson will be honored at the June 2 Garden Party at Locust Grove, the Samuel F.B. Morse National Historic Site in Poughkeepsie, for assistance in purchasing adjacent property. The organization's technical and strategic support and $350,000 contribution allowed Locust Grove to protect approximately 30 acres, buffering it from development that would have undermined the site's historic character and natural features. The land will become part of a network of public trails at the Morse site.

EPA'S ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AWARD
Rich Schiafo, Scenic Hudson's environmental project manager, is the recipient of a 2007 Environmental Quality Award by the Environmental Protection Agency. Mr. Schiafo spearheads Scenic Hudson's efforts to accelerate the cleanup of toxic PCBs from the Hudson River. He also serves as chair of Friends of a Clean Hudson, a coalition of national, state and regional environmental groups founded by Scenic Hudson in 1999 to advocate for the removal of PCBs from the Hudson River.

Scenic Hudson has played a lead role in the 25-year battle to require General Electric to remove PCBs it dumped in the Hudson at two upstate plants for 30 years. Cleanup is now scheduled to begin in 2009.