ALBANY - A total of $25,000 in matching grants have been awarded to the towns of Washington and Amenia and the Village of Red Hook, in Dutchess County, by the Hudson River Valley Greenway Council.

The Village of Red Hook received $7,500 toward creating a Village Green in the center of the village.  Since its 1967 Master Plan, the Village has identified creating a Village Green at the “four corners” area, and now the village finally has the opportunity to realize this long-standing vision. 

The Town of Amenia received $7,500 to plan an extension to the Harlem Valley Rail Trail into the Hamlet of Wassaic.  This project implements goals outlined in the Town’s recently adopted comprehensive plan in addition to the County’s Greenway Connections plan.  Extending the trail would be an economic development and quality of life boost to the Hamlet and the Town.  The new rail extension will link to the Metro-North Train Station in Wassaic, and allow residents, commuters and tourists non-motorized access to the historic hamlet center and transit from any place within the extent of the Harlem Valley Rail Trail’s regional network.

The Town of Washington received $10,000 to fund a Master plan update, the first Master Plan update since 1989.  The all-volunteer Master Plan Update Committee will be using the grant to hire a professional planner to assist the Committee as they develop the plan update.  The Master Plan Update Committee will be conducting extensive public outreach and will be consulting with regional land use experts including Dutchess County Planning and Development and the Pace University Land Use Law Center.  The Master Plan Update is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2009.