



Meet the partners
An environmental and cultural arts educational non-profit serving the wider Mohawk River Watershed​ in Schohaire, Montgomery, and Schenectady Counties. Their mission is to instill a love for learning, arts and science, promote the values of stewardship for our local environment, and encourage the positive and responsible involvement of all individuals in their communities.
As Lead Agency in the SEEC project, the SRC will be in charge of day-to-day operations, as well as designing and implementing many of the educational and cultural programming, with a high priority of expanding the environmental literacy of all communities in and around Schenectady.
ECOS: The Environmental Clearing House
ECOS provides environmental experiences and education for youth and adults to develop enjoyment and understanding of the natural world and foster action to preserve it.
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Upper Union Neighborhood Association
The Upper Union NA exists to preserve the quality of life in neighborhoods on the East Side of Schenectady and serve as a voice for neighborhood residents. We advocate for positive actions to uphold the quality of life in the neighborhood and promote civic engagement and neighborhood activities.
We do this by partnering with other organizations on projects such as converting the vacant Central Park "Casino" building into the Schenectady Environmental Education Center; sharing information about street repairs, waste collection and other issues important to neighborhood residents; sponsoring neighborhood beautification and maintenance projects; keeping an eye on problem buildings, to made sure the City acts to control them; sponsoring regular meetings and events such as neighborhood cleanups, food drives and other community activities to bring neighbors together; and, providing access to City officials to make sure residents are aware of available resources and to resolve problems in the neighborhood.
Upper Union neighbors grew increasingly concerned about conditions in Central Park in recent years, as several major park facilities were abandoned or deteriorated. The old "casino" building had been operated as a cafe, but for more than a decade no vendor could be found who could make it a financially viable business. It became a significant eyesore, sitting just yards from the main entrance to one of the region's premier public spaces. Vandalism and neglect caused the building to deteriorate, and area residents worried about losing this iconic structure, and about the impact it was having adjacent neighborhoods. They also aaw the impact that climate change was beginning to have on the park, and decided that maybe this building could be a resource in addressing our climate emergency. Meanwhile, neighbors pressured local governments for action on other problems in the park and investment in sports facilities and other neglected areas of the park began to trickle in. Most of the worst areas were eventually cleaned up, but this building continued to sit vacant.
Vacant public buildings are associated with poorer social and economic outcomes for nearby residents, and decrease property values. Bringing this building back to life will complement recent investments in Central Park that include a new pool, expanded bike trail and other infrastructure work. This project will improve the health, safety and education of park users, program participants and area residents, and will provide community meeting space that doesn't exist in this part of the City. It will also be a replicable model for design and financing of sustainable municipal facilities and show the City of Schenectady's commitment to addressing the climate crisis and other environmental threats to our region.
Upper Union NA volunteers will continue to advocate for this project and provide consultant services on the design and financing of the project. Once SEEC is up and running, we will sponsor events and there will be opportunities for volunteer docents to staff the center at various times or for events. For more information about the Upper Union Neighborhood Association contact us at upperunionna@gmail.com.


Their Vision is to create a world where all men realize their value as caretakers of their communities by providing self-help opportunities and supportive services to fathers, families, and community members.
Community Fathers Inc. has evolved into an organization focused on providing resources to the community through a multi-generational approach that includes: Domestic Violence Offender Accountability Program, Fathers Reentry Program, the Male Achievers High School Program, and the Occupations Instead of Incarceration Program.
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Community Fathers Inc. has been partnering with the Schoharie River Center to implement the Urban Ecology Program in Schenectady, which will be a major program run out of the Schenectady Environmental Education Center.
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Being a fixture right in the middle of Central Park, the City of Schenectady is an important partner in seeing the vision realized. ​