It’s easy to be overwhelmed by all the negative news out there about the state of the planet. But as we’ve previously mentioned, the best way to ground yourself is to look for signs of progress that are happening not only globally, but locally. At a time when many things might seem like losses, always acknowledge the wins. In keeping with that philosophy, here are some positive environmental headlines from across the Hudson Valley.
Second Annual Mermaid Festival Set for July 19
After a successful inaugural outing last year, the second annual Sleepy Hollow Mermaid Festival is set to take place at Kingsland Point Park on July 19, 2025.
More than 2,000 people gathered at Kingsland Point Park in Sleepy Hollow last July for the first Mermaid Festival. The celebration of the Hudson River became a gathering of watery glitz and glamour, with performers dressed as mythical mermaids and attendees decked out in aquatic sequins. Thanks to participation from River Keeper, Rivertowns SUP & Yoga, the Sleepy Hollow Project, and the village of Sleepy Hollow, festival organizers were able to publicly reopen a beach along the river that was closed for half a century.
The organizers partnered with the Shames JCC to provide lifeguards so people could swim and enjoy the river safely. Sustainable Sleepy Hollow shared an interactive demonstration on plastic in the Hudson, Riverkeeper displayed its striking watershed model, and Strawtown Studios paired up with Riverkeeper for a water ceremony, says Gina Carey, festival co-creator. “All day they worked with children to write messages on driftwood collected from the river, using clay made from it, and we ended the festival by walking down to the beach and asking everyone to send the driftwood back into the river,” she says. “It was truly beautiful!”
The music and merriment offered a welcome way to honor the powerhouse that is the Hudson River. The Mohican Tribe who called the region home called the river Mahicannituck, meaning “Great Waters Constantly in Motion.” It’s a fitting moniker; the average streamflow of the Hudson River can reach over 25,000 cubic feet per second during a typical winter. The Hudson estuary spans 153 of the river’s 315 miles, and is home to 200 species of fish. The biodiversity of its waters are rivaled only by the diversity and personalities of the communities along it, like Sleepy Hollow.
“The festival was so joyful — Sleepy Hollow is known for our Halloween festivities, and this one brought that mythmaking spirit into summertime, [while] also building on Hudson River lore,” Carey says.
Nature Everywhere Kingston Promotes Outdoor Access to Kingston Youth
Children and families in need who reside in Kingston will soon benefit from greater access to nature now that the city has been chosen as one of 19 communities in the country to join the first-ever Nature Everywhere Communities cohort.
The initiative — a partnership between the Children & Nature Network, the National League of Cities, and KABOOM! — will include two years of support and funding for the newly formed Nature Everywhere Kingston. The new endeavor, led by the nonprofit Wild Earth, will bring together various stakeholders within Kingston’s school district, parks, YMCA, and the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County.
“Our vision is for all youth in Kingston to have a connection to nature that is meaningful to them, with the understanding that connecting to nature is personal and influenced by our families, culture, education, and experiences,” Jennie Swantz, project manager for Nature Everywhere Kingston, said in a statement. “We are bringing together the great organizations who are already supporting nature connection in Kingston — including Scenic Hudson — to shine a spotlight on their work and understand where the gaps are. Long-term, our goals are to work together as a community to influence nature connection at the levels of policy, infrastructure, and programming.”
It’s a worthwhile mission. Research shows that even a small amount of time out in nature can greatly improve the physical and mental health of all ages.
New York State Announces Record $1B in Climate Investment
This past January, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that in 2025, New York State was set to invest $1 billion toward combating climate change; this initiative would be the single largest investment in sustainability in the state’s history. It’s a massive undertaking. The kinds of projects this tsunami of dollars will fund are all tried and true ways of cutting carbon emissions throughout multiple sectors of the economy.
Heat pump installation incentives in homes will keep residents warm during the winter without the use of excessive fossil fuels for heating. Plans for revamped public infrastructure are in the works at places like SUNY campuses, which could see the buildout of new renewables and the electrification of older buildings. Green transportation options will also be expanded to address the mobility part of the problem. Besides the funding, the state will continue to explore new policy prescriptions and shepherd New York’s businesses through this transition.
“The investment will create good-paying jobs, improve long-term affordability for families, and significantly reduce harmful pollution,” Paul DeMichele, a spokesperson for the New York State Executive Chamber, said in a statement. “We’re prioritizing a greener economy by expanding access to green transportation and charging infrastructure, making our buildings more energy efficient, and ultimately saving people money — and these benefits will begin immediately after the budget is finalized.”
