In Accepting Val-Kill Medal, Scenic Hudson Announces Bold Land-Saving Campaign

Scenic Hudson president Ned Sullivan calls for broad participation in reaching lofty goal

HUDSON VALLEY – Scenic Hudson President Ned Sullivan announced a plan to save 65,000 acres of "the land that matters most" from Westchester County to the Capital Region while accepting the Val-Kill Medal on Sunday, October 14.
From left: Scenic Hudson President Ned Sullivan, human rights champion Dr. Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela, women's rights advocate Cherie Blair, and educator/writer Curtis Roosevelt.photo by Karl Rabe
The honor was presented by the Eleanor Roosevelt Center at Val-Kill (ERVK) to the nonprofit because it has preserved land vital to the Hudson Valley's beauty and economic health. Echoing a famous statement from Eleanor Roosevelt that "conservation of land and conservation of people frequently go hand-in-hand," Mr. Sullivan sounded a call for state and local government as well as other land trusts to join the massive effort, which will cost an estimated $500 million. The land targeted for preservation features the region's natural treasures--mountaintops, marshlands, tributary shorelines, farmland and areas with iconic views.

Scenic Hudson highlighted two points of urgency for the campaign. The first is that land along the rejuvenated Hudson River is under siege by a tidal wave of unplanned, unchecked development that threatens to blight the valley's world-famous landscapes, foul our drinking water, clog our roads, destroy family farms and stifle lasting economic progress. Secondly, it will be important to save key riverfront parcels in time for the 2009 celebration of the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson's storied sail up the river.

Providing an example of the kind of land that would be saved, Mr. Sullivan cited 334 acres that his organization protected right in Hyde Park. Rather than let a big-box store move in directly across the street from the Franklin D. Roosevelt Home and Library and severely detract from it and other nearby major tourism attractions, Scenic Hudson bought the land. This summer it transferred the 334 acres, which connect the FDR site and Val-Kill, to the National Park Service. The move prompted the U.S. Secretary of the Interior to term it "the most important expansion of the Roosevelt National Historic Site that will ever happen."

"Eleanor Roosevelt, the medal that bears her name, and all who have received it stand for justice, equality, human rights and civic participation, and we feel that's at the heart of this campaign, this challenge," said Scenic Hudson President Ned Sullivan. "Every Hudson riverfront community deserves a place where people can get to the water's edge and experience its power to inspire and rejuvenate. Our communities and the river have come too far and have endured too many tough lessons about wrong-headed development to give away the opportunity for a beautiful, healthy and economically vibrant valley. We've got to get this work done and will need to work with many partners to make it happen."

Achievements of Val-Kill Medal honorees

Scenic Hudson – the first organization to receive the Val-Kill Medal – and three individuals were toasted during a ceremony at the Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site in Hyde Park. While sharing details of its ambitious land-preservation campaign, Scenic Hudson pointed to this year's award recipients and those named during the 20-year history of the medal for worldwide achievements that embody the legacy of Eleanor Roosevelt.

Besides Scenic Hudson, others receiving medals during the 2007 ceremony included: Cherie Blair, worldwide advocate for women's rights and wife of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair; Dr. Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela, human rights champion, author and member of South Africa's historic Truth and Reconciliation Commission; and Curtis Roosevelt (oldest grandson of FDR and Eleanor), educator and writer with 20 years in the Secretariat of the United Nations.

Notables from previous years include Queen Noor of Jordan, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Lea Rabin, Christopher Reeve, Richard Gere, Mike Wallace, and Bill and Judith Moyers.

Val-Kill cites Scenic Hudson for restoring beauty and economic health of valley

ERVK said that Scenic Hudson was chosen to receive the medal for "its inspiring and undaunted commitment to some of the same principles that Mrs. Roosevelt championed, in particular, environmental preservation, support for agriculture, citizen-based advocacy, sophisticated planning, and access to a clean, healthy environment for all. Scenic Hudson's example of visionary activism exemplifies the style of positive civic leadership the Eleanor Roosevelt Val-Kill Medal was designed to honor."

In describing why the ERVK was setting precedent by bestowing the medal on an organization, Executive Director Cathy Collins said, "It would have been difficult to name only one individual. The integrity of how they conduct their work is what sets Scenic Hudson apart from other environmental organizations."

Gratitude expressed to Rob Dyson

After being introduced by Rob Dyson, a 2000 medal recipient, Mr. Sullivan praised Mr. Dyson and his family for their generosity throughout the valley. "Rob has shown leadership by extending the reach of the Dyson Foundation to an amazing array of causes – from small nonprofits to major healthcare and educational institutions in the region."

Mr. Sullivan highlighted Mr. Dyson's vision and support for transforming a rusting, abandoned 20th–century railroad bridge in Poughkeepsie into the longest and highest walking bridge in the world. "Thanks to Rob, this project has the promise of being a centerpiece for the celebration of the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson's storied sail up the river."

Details shared about "the land that matters most"

Also during his remarks, Mr. Sullivan expressed what a great privilege it was to be included among the other honorees and for Scenic Hudson to be saluted for the vision, courage and willingness to act that defined Eleanor Roosevelt's extraordinary spirit. "Forty-five years ago the founders of Scenic Hudson saved a mountain and launched modern environmentalism – winning the right for citizens to have a say in development projects proposed for their community. Today we have a plan for protecting 65,000 acres of critically important land along the river that could be lost to unchecked, unplanned development if we don't act now."

While the campaign will preserve land for public benefit between Westchester County and the Capital Region, several areas have been and will continue to be especially important.

• Hudson Highlands

  Scenic Hudson has conserved 7,132 acres in this region of national significance, stretching from Peekskill to Beacon/Newburgh. Highlights include saving Storm King Mountain from desecration, helping protect Sterling Forest, creating the West Point Foundry Preserve, and preserving historic Mt. Beacon. This area is valued for ecological, scenic and historic resources.

• Mid-Hudson Estates District

  Scenic Hudson has conserved 6,084 acres in this historic stretch of valley from Poughkeepsie to Germantown on the east, and adjacent lands on the west side of the Hudson between Lloyd and Saugerties. The district is home to national and state historic sites and other attractions such as Locust Grove, the Franklin. D. Roosevelt Home and Library, Vanderbilt Mansion, Mills Mansion, Montgomery Place, Clermont, etc. Examples of success include three parks in Esopus, a large parcel that links the FDR site and Val-Kill, Franny Reese Preserve, Poet's Walk Park, and Montgomery Place and its views.

• The Hudson River corridor between Hudson and Albany

  Also called the Hudson River Islands Region, here Scenic Hudson has conserved 2,000 acres along this ecologically significant stretch of the Hudson. The region boasts tidal flats, islands, forested shoreline, former underwater lands, and significant wildlife habitat. Victories include the Stockport Flats Conservation Area, Vosburgh Swamp and Nutten Hook.

Scenic Hudson works to protect and restore the Hudson River and its majestic landscape as an irreplaceable national treasure and a vital resource for residents and visitors. A crusader for the valley since 1963, we are credited with saving fabled Storm King Mountain from a destructive industrial project and launching the modern grass-roots environmental movement. Today with more than 10,000 ardent supporters, we are the largest environmental group focused on the Hudson River Valley. Our team of experts combines land acquisition, support for agriculture, citizen-based advocacy and sophisticated planning tools to create environmentally healthy communities, champion smart economic growth, open up riverfronts to the public and preserve the valley's inspiring beauty and natural resources. www.scenichudson.org

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