Press Release

The Greater Irvington Land Trust Launches 2026Community Grant Program to Preserve and Protect Open Space

IRVINGTON, NY (January28, 2026)—Today, the Greater Irvington Land Trust (GILT) announced that it is launching its third community grant program to provide funding for local, community-based projects that support the preservation and protection of open space and promote environmental sustainability in Irvington, New York, and its surrounding communities. Applications can be submitted today through March 13, 2026. The community grant program will provide four to six small grants (collectively valued at$10,000 in total) for local, community-based projects that advance and promote the following goals and priorities:

• Preserving and maintaining existing open space, including protecting and advancing the health and environmental sustainability of that open space.

• Promoting awareness and education about the need for and the benefits of preserving and protecting open space.

• Supporting equal access for everyone in our communities to funding regarding the preservation, maintenance, awareness, and educational potential of open space, including giving consideration to under-served areas and neighborhoods.

These projects will be based in the greater Irvington area, which includes the Villages ofIrvington, Dobbs Ferry, Tarrytown and Hastings and in East Irvington, and will be designed to be completed within 12 months.

“We are excited to offer our grant program for a third consecutive year to deserving local individuals–including students–and organizations that care deeply about preserving and protecting our beautiful open spaces,” said Chet Kerr, Co-Chairman of the Board of GILT. “We hope that this grant program provides the opportunity for people throughout our community to give back and help preserve land for future generations.

”This year’s grant program builds on the great success of GILT’s 2025community grant program supporting open space as described below.

In addition to its community grant program, GILT continues to work on several projects to protect and preserve open space and parkland in Irvington, Dobbs Ferry, Tarrytown, Hastings and East Irvington, including supporting native plant policy initiatives, actively participating in applications before local Planning Boards, and advocating to protect local freshwater ponds. As a result of GILT’s efforts, the Village of Irvington has dedicated as protected parkland over 65 acres of Village-owned property in the Irvington Woods and around Halsey Pond, the Irvington Woods Park is now one of the largest protected woodland parks in southern Westchester, and the village of Dobbs Ferry is working to create a new, expanded 14-acre village park along the Saw Mill River.

Eligible applicants for the community grant program include individuals and students who live within and recognized student groups from the Villages of Irvington, Dobbs Ferry, Tarrytown, Hastings, and/or in East Irvington, and local churches and community-based Not-for-Profit Corporations (“NFPs”) that are subject to New York State’s NFP Corporation Law and are qualified for tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of theFederal Internal Revenue Code. 

Applications submitted by an individual under the ageof18 must include the name of a sponsoring adult..Applications must be submitted by email to GILT atgrants@irvingtonlandtrust.orgbeforeMarch 13, 2026. All eligible applications submitted by the due date will be reviewed and considered. 

Open Space Map