| | | OSI Leads Major Partnership to Save Historic Riverfront Property in South Carolina
Monumental partnerships happen when people share a common vision. The Open Space Institute (OSI) and a broad coalition of partners have joined forces to save the historic Snow’s Island Assemblage and catalyze conservation in Florence County, South Carolina. Encompassing 7,600 acres and 60 miles of frontage along two major scenic rivers, the project will open up public access to extensive forested wetlands and waterways for outdoor recreation. Protection of the Assemblage also safeguards a significant piece of American history: Snow’s Island famously served as General Francis Marion’s main encampment site during the Revolutionary War. OSI is on target to acquire the land in autumn 2024, marking the largest land conservation project in Florence County’s history.
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| | | | A Major Addition to Moreau Lake State Park
A new 860-acre nature preserve has opened to the public, thanks to the Open Space Institute, New York State, and other partners. The Big Bend Preserve, acquired by OSI in 2019, has been added to Moreau Lake State Park, making it among New York’s ten largest state parks. The preserve expands public access to nature and recreational opportunities and protects habitat for wildlife including the federally endangered Karner blue butterfly. |
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| | | | Supporting Young Leaders in the Hudson Valley
Five exceptional students are this year’s recipients of the Open Space Institute’s Barnabas McHenry Hudson River Valley Awards. These young leaders will receive funding for projects that enrich local communities, including the creation of a community garden, the preservation of cultural assets and history, and codification of best conservation practices. |
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| | | | O&W Trail Improvements Celebrated
The Open Space Institute recently joined local officials and dozens of trail enthusiasts to celebrate the completion of improvements to five miles of the popular O&W Rail Trail in Ulster County, New York. As the demand for greenway trails increases — for off-road transportation, recreation, and community connections — OSI is leading the effort to reinvent the entire O&W line as part of its larger Growing Greenways initiative. |
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| | | | OSI Welcomes a New Conservation Fellow
The Open Space Institute welcomes Isabel Sumardi, its newest two-year Conservation Fellow. Now in its eighth year, OSI’s Conservation Diversity Fellowship program invests in emerging leaders from diverse backgrounds, providing opportunities for Fellows to gain professional experience, develop skills, and launch careers in the environmental and conservation fields. |
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