More cash in Walkway coffers

The Jane W. Nuhn Charitable Trust, a Poughkeepsie-based foundation, is chipping in $500,000 to support Walkway Over the Hudson's effort to transform the Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad Bridge into the world’s longest elevated public park.

“This significant award by a venerable local philanthropic institution demonstrates how much the Walkway dream is shared in every corner of our community,” Walkway Chairman Fred Schaeffer said in a press release.

The $35.5 million Walkway construction project is scheduled to wrap up in September of 2009, in time for the Quad celebration. This recent Poughkeepsie Journal article describes the work that's underway.

Walkway Over the Hudson said its fundraising goal currently stands at $12.5 million, which it hopes to raise over the next year via government, corporate, private foundations, individuals and other funding sources. Other donors that have made significant contributions to the project include the Dyson Foundation ($2 million), Scenic Hudson ($1 million), and the Dutchess County Industrial Development Agency ($500,000).

"Between these large contributions from community-minded benefactors, significant support from our partners in government, and the hundreds of smaller donations from Walkway’s members and supportive individuals we’re well on our way to completing this project,” Walkway Executive Director Amy Husten said in the release.