PRESS RELEASE
April 21, 2008

Community Comes Together for Preserve Clean-up

Residents joined legislators and staff from the Rensselaer County Legislature for the annual spring clean-up at the Papscanee Island Nature Preserve on Saturday, April 19, with volunteers hauling away trash and debris left from the spring thaw of the Hudson River.

Participants also began work to improve the spring-summer parking area at the Preserve just off Staats Road. Sections of fencing that had fallen into disrepair due mostly to weather conditions were removed and brush cleared back. Further work to improve the parking area is expected during the coming months.

Legislator Alex Shannon, who serves as chair of the Legislature’s Environmental Committee, joined volunteers from the legislative offices, residents and members of a Girl Scout troop from Nassau and Schodack in helping clean-up the Preserve.

“We are very appreciative of everyone who took the time to come out and spruce up one of the most beautiful areas of Rensselaer County. This really helps remove a great deal of the debris and branches that get washed ashore during the thaw,” said Shannon.

The clean-up is essential because of the amount of branches, trash and other debris deposited on the shores of the Preserve during the spring thaw. This spring brought an expected amount of debris to the Preserve shoreline.

The Preserve is owned by the Open Space Institute and managed through an agreement by the county Environmental Management Council, an office of the County Legislature. The Preserve includes 156-acres in the towns of East Greenbush and Schodack and a natural shoreline along the Hudson River, with some of the best views of the historic river. The Preserve also includes trails and offers year-round recreational opportunities.

The EMC expects to conduct other clean-ups during the spring and summer months, along with improving one of the parking areas and trails. The Preserve includes approximately four miles of trails.

Photo caption: Residents joined legislators and staff from the Rensselaer County Legislature for the annual spring clean-up at the Papscanee Island Nature Preserve on Saturday, April 19, with volunteers hauling away trash and debris left from the spring thaw of the Hudson River. Legislator Alex Shannon gets help from Matt Crist, age 9 and at left, and Ricky Crist, age 11, in removing debris.

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