Glenville Woods (NY) Now Nature Preserve

Greenburgh, NY, 8/30/2001: The Trust for Public Land and the Open Space Institute, in partnership with the State of New York, Westchester County, and the town of Greenburgh, announced today the protection of the 44.7-acre Glenville Woods property in Greenburgh.

The acquisition consisted of two transactions. The Trust for Public Land purchased a 26.4-acre property that was then transferred to the town and the county, and the Open Space Institute acquired an adjoining 18.3-acre property, which it will lease to the town. The town will operate and maintain both parcels as a nature preserve. An existing network of trails on the property makes it an ideal site for hiking and nature study. The seller, Ginsberg Development Corporation will retain approximately 15 acres for residential development.

“This deal would not have been possible without the leadership of County Executive Andrew J. Spano and Town Supervisor Paul Feiner,” said Clark Wallace, project manager for the Trust for Public Land. “Through this partnership and Governor George E. Pataki’s commitment of state funds, more open space in Westchester County has been preserved and will be available for public use and recreation.”

“The permanent protection of Glenville Woods represents a tremendous accomplishment—because of the success of a very dedicated public-private partnership, this deal should serve as a model effort. The Town of Greenburgh now boasts a beautiful 44-acre park in the midst of an area that has precious little existing open space,” said Joe Martens, president of the Open Space Institute.

The deal also received strong support from Assemblyman Richard Brodsky, Senator Nicholas Spano, the Westchester County Board of Legislators, and the Town Council of Greenburgh. The property’s preservation has also been a long-term goal of the Glenville Community Association, which strongly supported the acquisition.

“This acquisition culminates an eight-year protection effort and demonstrates that communities and developers can work together toward a common goal,” said Jon Flores of the Glenville Community Association. “The combined efforts of OSI, TPL the town, county and state have helped us realize our dream to preserve and protect this precious parcel and for that we are eternally grateful.”

The property, located north of Route 119 just west of the intersection of I-287 and the Saw Mill River Parkway, will provide additional access to the adjacent 122-acre Tarrytown Lakes South County Park. The property contains woods, wetlands, steep slopes and rock escarpments and is home to nearly 100 species of birds, 26 reptile species, 43 plant species and 63 different types of trees. The land is part of a 580-acre strip of unbroken forest. Its protection will enhance access to existing trails including the North County Trailway and the Tarrytown Lakes Trail.

The $2.5 million purchase from the Ginsburg Development Corporation was funded by a grant from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation ($400,000), the Town of Greenburgh ($867,000), Westchester County ($400,000) and $833,000 from the Open Space Institute.

Two years ago, the Trust for Public Land and OSI protected the 120-acre former Gaisman Estate on Ridge Road in Hartsdale. The land, formerly owned by the Archdiocese of New York, is now managed as a town park and nature preserve.

The Trust for Public Land, founded in 1972, specializes in conservation real estate, applying its expertise in negotiation, public finance, and law to protect land for public use and enjoyment. To date, TPL has helped protect more than a million acres, valued at more than $1.8 billion. Working in partnership with the Open Space Institute, TPL has helped protect more than 55,000 acres in New York State since 1981, valued at more than $285 million.

The Open Space Institute is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting land in New York State, and supporting the efforts of citizen activists working to protect environmental quality in their communities. In less than two decades, OSI has protected over 70,000 acres for the benefit of the public, creating and adding to over 30 parks and preserves throughout New York.