Friends of Kensico Cemetery Receives $230,000 State Grant for Wetland and Stream Restoration

VALHALLA, N.Y. — The Friends of Kensico Cemetery has been awarded $230,000 from the New York State Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) through the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation’s Invasive Species Grant Program, Round 4. The grant will fund ecological restoration work to restore a degraded wetland and stream habitat within the cemetery’s 460-acre grounds in Valhalla.

The award is part of more than $5.1 million being distributed to 51 projects across New York State to combat invasive species and support the health of the state’s natural landscapes.

“This grant is a testament to our commitment to preserving not just the history and beauty of Kensico, but the nature and horticulture that make this landscape so special. We are incredibly grateful to the DEC and the New York State Environmental Protection Fund for this recognition and support,” said Matthew G. Parisi, President of the Friends of Kensico Cemetery.

Kensico Cemetery’s grounds are home to the only Level II Arboretum in Westchester County and are open to the public 365 days a year.

“Managing invasive species and mitigating their negative impacts to our lands and waters is essential to the environment, public health, and quality of life,” said DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton, in a statement announcing the award recipients. “Investing in science-based management and strong local partnerships is strengthening New York’s efforts to combat invasive species, protect biodiversity, and build more resilient ecosystems.”

This project has been funded by the New York State Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) through a grant administered by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, Invasive Species Grant Program.

Friends of Kensico Cemetery, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to promoting and enhancing the welfare of Kensico Cemetery through historical preservation, education, and fundraising for other charitable organizations in Westchester County.

Kensico Cemetery is a not-for-profit membership corporation, established in 1889 to serve the burial needs of the New York metropolitan area. The Kensico Cemetery Arboretum is an accredited Level II Arboretum, as recognized by the ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program and the Morton Register of Arboreta. It is the only designated Level II Arboretum in Westchester County.