The Rensselaer Land Trust received grants totaling $37,000 from New York State's Environmental Protection Fund through the Conservation Partnership Program. These awards were announced April 23rd, 2012 by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Land Trust Alliance.

Rensselaer Land Trust will receive $20,000 for its new John B. Staalesen Vanderheyden Preserve in Troy and $17,000 to support efforts to obtain re-accreditation.

Rensselaer Land Trust will match the State funding for the Staalesen Preserve with more than $40,000 of private monies and in-kind services. The grant funds will be used to develop a baseline report on the property, and develop off-street unpaved parking, plus install a display board and signs.

"We are working with the neighborhood and the City of Troy to develop recreational facilities at the Preserve," said Nick Conrad, president of the board of directors for the Rensselaer Land Trust.

The grant of $17,000 will be used to support RLT's effort to obtain re-accreditation. Rensselaer Land Trust is one of the 158 out of 1,700 Land Trusts in the nation to be accredited demonstrating the highest standards of land conservation.

"We are very excited about these awards and thank both the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and the Land Trust Alliance," said Christine Young, executive director of the Rensselaer Land Trust.