Assemblymember Phil Steck announced that he secured $50,000 for the support of the Woodlawn Preserve portion of the Pine Bush habitat that the city of Schenectady owns. The funds, which are part of a larger State investment into the Albany Pine Bush Preserve, will help protect natural resources and connect Capital Region residents with the area’s unique environmental surroundings.

“The Woodlawn Preserve is a tremendous natural resource and it’s been a mission of mine to preserve its beauty and habitat for the next generation,” said Assemblymember Steck. “I am honored to have the opportunity to lay the foundation for the protection of this land and look forward to our children having a chance to see the untouched beauty of nature in their own backyards.”

The Woodlawn Preserve and the Pine Bush Preserve are adjoining parts of this invaluable and unique habitat. The Friends of the Woodlawn Preserve have undertaken efforts to restore the Woodlawn Preserve through a cooperation agreement with the Pine Bush Preserve, which has the technical expertise and resources necessary to complete the restoration process.

Assemblyman Steck encouraged the development of the cooperation agreement, recognizing that the future of the Woodlawn preserve would be enhanced by its affiliation with the Pine Bush preserve, and has now secured the funds necessary to begin fully implementing the cooperation agreement.

“I want to begin by extending our thanks to Phil Steck for appropriating the money for the protection of the Woodlawn Preserve,” Janet Chen, Chair of Friends of the Woodlawn Preserve. This long neglected parcel in the city of Schenectady is in dire need of attention, as it has never been professionally managed. Our goal is to have this pine barren fragment restored and open to the public for passive recreational and educational opportunities. We deeply appreciate the perseverance that Assemblyman Steck has demonstrated over the past few years in helping us to achieve this goal.”