Get ready for more great things at Downybrook Nature Reserve!
OBI Land Trust was notified on Monday, April 18, 2022 that we were awarded funding for a project totaling $50,000! The project includes a $35,782 grant from the New York State Partnership Program, a partnership between the state Department of Environmental Conservation and the Land Trust Alliance. The remaining funding, a required grant match, is a result of donations from supporters of OBI!
The award will fund a new access road and parking area on the east side of Downybrook, a 180-acre nature reserve on Perch Lake Road in Brownville. The grant will also help fund a viewing deck on the scenic west side of the property that will enhance bird-watching and serve as an outdoor gathering spot.
The “Discover Downybrook” campaign was launched by OBI in 2019 to highlight this premiere public use property and its 3.5 miles of nature trails. In April 2019, another NYSCPP grant totaling $50,000 helped to fund Phase 1 of upgrades at Downybrook. This included new wood walkovers and bridges, an observation deck on the west side pond, informational kiosks and enlarged parking lot on the west side trails. OBI Land Trust is the area’s only all-volunteer land trustsand it is grants like this one from the NYSPP and donations from supporters that keep us thriving to fulfill our mission.
OBI Receives $1,000 Mission-Based Grant from the Northern New York Community Foundation’s Youth Philanthropy Council
OBI was recently the recipient of a $1000 mission-based grant awarded by the Youth Philanthropy Council. OBI was one of five (150 nonprofits applied) North Country nonprofits selected to receive the grant! The Council selected the recipients based on their mission, fiscal responsibility and sustainability, and a formal presentation. This is the second year that Youth Philanthropy Council has awarded mission-based grants to North Country nonprofits. This grant, as well as the generosity of our donors, will allow OBI to continue to fulfill our mission of preserving and maintaining important lands within our Service area.
The Youth Philanthropy Council falls under the auspices of the Northern New York Community Foundation. The Council is comprised of students from several North Country school districts. A group of these hardworking students will also be helping OBI with a spring cleanup to be held at the Alex Velto Bat Conservation Area on April 30th! OBI also received a $250 grant to provide refreshments to the Youth Philanthropy Council volunteers for their Clean-Up Day at the Alex C. Velto Bat Conservation Area & Woodland Trail.