CLC seeks partnership with artist(s) to complete the following activities at Greenport Conservation Area, located in Greenport, NY:

1. Replace a kiosk along the Access for All Trail
2. Replace a gazebo at the terminus of the Access for All Trail
3. Create and install a river-themed art trail along the Dogwood Trail/Hickory Lane Loop.

Background

CLC manages the Greenport Conservation Area (GCA) for year-round passive recreational activities and permits a variety of non-motorized passive recreational modalities on the trail system. This includes but is not limited to walking, running, cycling, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. The site is visited nearly 20,000 times per year by Columbia County residents and visitors. Greenport Conservation Area is located on the ancestral homelands of the Mohican people, who are the Indigenous peoples of this land. Despite tremendous hardship in being forced from here, today their community resides in Wisconsin and is known as the Stockbridge-Munsee Community.

This work is supported in part by a grant from the Hudson River Estuary Program. The project will be supervised by CLC staff and will involve a team of professionals providing administrative support, community outreach, communications, and work plan review. Proposals will be reviewed by a committee of CLC staff, board members, and volunteers.

Scope of Work

Project 1: Kiosk replacement ($5,000) Artist will replace the existing kiosk located along the Access for All Trail, an ADA-accessible trail. The current kiosk is a six-panel, roofed structure on flagstones with some built-in benches. CLC staff are available to remove the old structure. The location is frequently used as a meeting place or lunchtime spot, and several mature trees provide ample shade.

Successful proposals for replacing the kiosk should focus on creating ADA accessible seating and connecting visitors to the natural and cultural resources of the site in a semi-permanent structure (lifespan ideally at least 10 years). Any print signage should follow National Parks Service’s accessibility guidelines for interpretive material. CLC staff are able to provide contextual information on the property and a copy of accessibility standards. This location can be accessed with a motor vehicle. Light and sound installations are prohibited. The use of natural materials is encouraged. Artists should be prepared for the potential of vandalism and have a plan in place for addressing it.

Project 2: Gazebo replacement ($27,000) Artist will create a proposal for and construct a new gazebo overlooking the Hudson River, located along the Access for All Trail. The current gazebo has fallen into disrepair due to age and colonization by insects. CLC staff will work with the selected artist to create a plan for removal of the old structure, and may be able to assist in recruiting volunteers for a community workday to build the new gazebo, if the artist is interested.

Successful proposals for replacing the gazebo should focus on creating ADAaccessible seating and celebrating the natural and/or cultural resources of the site in a semi-permanent structure (lifespan ideally at least 15 years). Proposals should also consider difficulty of repairing or replacing portions of the gazebo over time as the structure ages. This location can be accessed with a motor vehicle. Light and sound installations are prohibited. The use of natural materials is encouraged. Artists should be prepared for the potential of vandalism and have a plan in place for addressing it.

Project 3: Creation of a river-themed art trail ($5,000) Artist will create a river-themed art installation along the Dogwood Trail and Hickory Lane

Successful proposals should focus on engaging visitors with the world around them without detracting from the natural setting. Arrangements can be made with CLC staff to access the site with a vehicle. Light and sound installations are prohibited. The use of natural materials is encouraged. Artists should be prepared for the potential of vandalism and have a plan in place for addressing it, as well as a plan to remove the installation at the end of November, 2023.

Submittal

Cover letter including expression of interest, name, location, and contact information. Proposal should include:

• Project selection – clearly indicate if you are submitting a proposal for the kiosk, the gazebo, or the art trail. Individuals submitting for multiple projects should submit separate a proposal for each.
• Artist statement – include your location, your core values, what you hope to bring to the project, and why Greenport Conservation Area is of interest.
• Vision – provide information about what you hope to create at Greenport Conservation Area. Clearly indicate the cultural and natural resources at the site that you plan to highlight. Describe how your proposal contributes to a welcoming atmosphere for groups that have historically been excluded from outdoor recreation and incorporates multiple perspectives, if applicable. Include sketches and/or renderings.
• Accessibility - information about how you will adhere to ADA and National Parks Service Guidelines.
• Feasibility – indicate your plan for following the timeline set forth in the RFP, including maintenance both during and outside of the active project period. Include information about past similar projects, with photos if possible.
• Adherence to budget – include a detailed cost estimate broken out by materials, supplies, time, and other expenses.

Submit via e-mail as a single PDF to [email protected] with the subject line “Greenport Conservation Area Improvements.” Proposals must be received by 5:00 pm EST on November 30, 2022 to be considered.

Please see commission document for full project information and instructions