A new publication, “Creating and Maintaining Hudson River Views: A Handbook for Landowners,” is now available on the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation website. The handbook provides guidance for historic sites, land trusts, and owners of other large properties to use the best methods for environmental stewardship, creating and maintaining scenic vistas that balance aesthetic and historic goals with the protection of habitat and natural areas.
Landscape architect and engineering firm Saratoga Associates, through a NEIWPCC contract in partnership with the Hudson River Estuary Program, developed and produced the handbook, which is accompanied by a three-part training video series. The firm also created two demonstration sites that illustrate best practices for creating scenic vistas, in Mills-Norrie State Park in Staatsburg, NY and at the Blithewood Estate on the Bard College campus in Annandale-on-Hudson, NY.
The New York State Environmental Protection Fund provided funding for the project. A group of stakeholders, including representatives from state agencies, historic properties, environmental groups, municipalities, educators, and design professionals, all shared input and guidance in the development of the handbook.