CEED awarded Preserve New York Grant

The Center for Environmental Education and Discovery (CEED) shares good news with Town of Brookhaven supervisor Ed Romaine, councilman Michael Loguercio Jr., and Suffolk County Legis. James Mazzarella (3rd District), about a Preserve New York Grant to help preserve the Washington Lodge, and further CEED’s mission.

“We’re so excited to share the news that CEED has been awarded a grant to conduct a building conditions report on the Washington Lodge,” said executive director Sally Wellinger. “In addition to being the home of CEED, the Washington Lodge is an important building in the history of this community, and we’re happy to be able to use it, and work to conserve and restore it. The building conditions report will help us understand the current state of the building, what needs to be repaired and restored, and in what priority. It’s so important, and we’re just thrilled that Preserve New York has chosen to support our efforts with this grant!”

“We’re also grateful to the supervisor Romaine and councilman Loguercio for their support, and to the Town of Brookhaven for allowing us to use this amazing building to connect people to nature and art.”

Additional information
about the grant:

Art & Nature Group Inc. dba Center for Environmental Education and Discovery (CEED) is one of this year’s Preserve New York (PNY) 19 grantees and one of only two awards in Suffolk County. Their grant of $10,632 will fund a building conditions report. The Preservation League of New York State and their program partners at the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) and the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation are thrilled to help fund this important work.

“This generous funding will help launch our restoration and renovation of the Washington lodge, a building that has had a special place in this community for almost 150 years. The building conditions report will help create the blueprint,” said Wellinger.

To create an optimal community resource for all, this funding from Preserve New York to complete a conditions report will help maximize preservation of the structure. The building presents specific challenges due to the complicated construction history, as well as damage done by vandals when the building was recently vacant.

At its 2023 meeting, an independent grant panel selected 19 applicants in 17 counties to receive support totaling $279,936. Each grant supports important arts and cultural initiatives, as well as economic development related to our state’s arts and cultural heritage. Many of these grants will lead to historic district designation or expansion, telling the stories of communities throughout the state and allowing property owners to take advantage of the New York State and federal historic tax credits.

The Preserve New York program is a regrant partnership between the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) and the Preservation League, made possible with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. The Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation has generously provided additional funds to support nonprofit projects in Nassau and Suffolk counties.

Since 1993, Preserve New York has been providing funds to municipalities and nonprofit organizations that need technical, professional assistance to guide a variety of preservation projects. The building condition reports, cultural landscape reports, and cultural resource surveys funded through this program lead to positive outcomes across New York’s 62 counties.

2023 PNY Grant Recipients:

Albany County: Shaker Heritage Society, $20,000 | Cattaraugus County: Leon Historical Society, $6,720 | Chautauqua County: Patterson Library, $16,000 | Essex County: Fort Ticonderoga Association, $18,800 | Franklin County: Harrietstown, $13,600 | Green County: Hudson-Athens Lighthouse Preservation Society, $20,008 | Livingston County: Village on Nunda, $12,980 | Madison County: Oneida Community Mansion House, $18,940 | Monroe County: Connected Communities / Beechwood Neighborhood Coalition, $20,000 | Nassau County: Long Beach Historical & Preservation Society, $7,876 | New York County: Historic Districts Council, $16,000 | Orange County: The Fullerton, $12,000 | Otsego County: Otsego Land Trust, $14,780 | Suffolk County: The Center for Environmental Education and Discovery, $10,632; Wainscott Heritage Project, $14,400 | Ulster County: The Center for Photography at Woodstock, $14,000; Village of New Paltz, $14,000 | Warren County: Silver Bay YMCA, $11,200 | Westchester County: Historic Hudson Valley, $18,000

“The Preserve New York program ensures arts and culture organizations continue to be beacons of New York’s rich history. By preserving significant spaces and sites, we promote vitality and drive economic activity across our great state,” said Mara Manus, NYSCA executive director. “NYSCA applauds the Preservation League of New York State for their stewardship of this crucial opportunity and extends our sincere congratulations to all awardees.”

“This year’s Preserve New York grant cycle was one of the most competitive in the program’s history,” said Jay DiLorenzo, president of the Preservation League of NYS. “The 19 projects funded truly rose to the top and represent a great cross-section of historic resources found across the state. From a shaker washhouse upstate to the Little Caribbean neighborhood in Brooklyn, each project helps tell the story of New York’s rich history.”

“The Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation is delighted to have partnered once again with the Preservation League of New York State to support preservation projects on Long Island. These awards prepare our stewards to professionally assess the needs of future renovation and restoration of their historic site, thus saving them as educational tools for future generations,” said Kathryn M. Curran, executive director of the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation.

About the Preservation League
of New York State

Since its founding in 1974, the Preservation League has built a reputation for action and effectiveness. Our goal has been to preserve our historic buildings, districts, and landscapes and to build a better New York, one community at a time. The Preservation League of New York State invests in people and projects that champion the essential role of preservation in community revitalization, sustainable economic growth and the protection of our historic buildings and landscapes. We lead advocacy, economic development, and education programs across the state.

Connect with us at preservenys.org, facebook.com/preservenys, twitter.com/preservenys, and instagram.com/preservenys, and youtube.com/c/PreservationLeague.

About the Art & Nature Group, Inc. dba Center for Environmental Education and Discovery

Founded in 2015, The Center for Environmental Education & Discovery (CEED) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to connect our community to nature and science with creative use of discovery, art, and education. CEED is based in the historic Washington Lodge in Brookhaven, NY. CEED also stewards 60+ acres of open space and forested nature preserve by agreement with the Town of Brookhaven and Suffolk County. CEED serves children, youth and adults through public nature activities, seasonal events, art programs, school and community-based environmental education, conservation projects, and live animal ambassadors. We welcome all types of volunteer and donor support. Contact info@ceedli.org for more information.