The Walkway Over the Hudson nonprofit organization and Bank of America launched the Walkway’s new Building Sustainability Practices Program this week at Upper Landing Park in Poughkeepsie.

The group will use a $20,000 grant from Bank of America to purchase and install new Bigbelly solar-generated trash compacting and recycling stations at the east and west entrances to Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park. The grant will also fund educational interpretive signage, sustainable practices training for Walkway’s Volunteer Ambassadors, and other programmatic enhancements at the world-renowned linear park that spans the Hudson River between Dutchess and Ulster counties.

“This generous grant from Bank of America will enable us to begin expanding a sustainability program in Walkway State Historic Park in many meaningful and highly visible ways,” said Walkway Over the Hudson Executive Director Elizabeth Waldstein-Hart.

“At Bank of America, we recognize the responsibility we have to strive towards a more sustainable world,” said Jennifer MacPhee, Bank of America Market President for the Albany & Hudson Valley region. “We are proud to support Walkway Over the Hudson and the great work they do to promote sustainability practices in our community.”

Walkway Board Member and Ambassador Kathy Smith, who leads the Walkway’s Green Team, will oversee the Walkway’s expanded Building Sustainability Practices Program. She described a variety of new features and beneficial programs will be initiated with the funding from Bank of America. They include:

• Installing Bigbelly solar-generated trash compacting and recycling, stations at the east and western entrances of Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park.
• Create and install signage explaining single stream and organic environmental impact information.

Walkway will partner with Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County to train Walkway Ambassadors on single stream, organic recycling, and sustainability practices.