GENESEO, N.Y. — SUNY Geneseo President Denise A. Battles was among those cutting the ribbon this week to officially open the Humphrey Nature Center at Letchworth State Park. Letchworth is a short distance southwest of Geneseo and includes an educational partnership with the college for students and faculty to continue year-round teaching and research with the park.
The new state-of-the-art nature center is a centerpiece project of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s NY Parks 2020 initiative, which provided $3.55 million toward the project. The governor was at the ribbon cutting and commended the center, calling it “the result of a fruitful public-private partnership, made possible by the generous spirit of the Humphrey Family.”
WATCH VIDEO OF THE RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY
The center is named for philanthropist Peter G. Humphrey – whose unrelenting fundraising efforts and commitment to State Parks secured the critical $3.2 million in private investment and grants necessary for making the project a reality. Humphrey is chairman of the capital campaign for the nature center and at the ribbon cutting thanked everyone who made the center possible.
Geneseo formed a partnership when ground was broken for the nature center aimed at providing greater hands-on educational experiences and research opportunities at the facility.
"I am delighted that the idea of the Letchworth Nature Center has been brought to full fruition and very pleased that SUNY Geneseo is part of the formal partnership that helped make it possible,” said President Battles. “It not only will be a marvelous destination for visitors to learn about this impressive state park but will offer Geneseo students a number of learning and service opportunities that will greatly enrich their college experience. My sincere congratulations to all involved in the development of this superb nature center."
Many Geneseo students have already been involved in Letchworth projects, including research projects that have been presented at academic conference. It’s anticipated that the nature center will expand those opportunities for the benefit of the students and the park.
Media Contact:
David Irwin
College Communications
(585) 245-5529
Irwin@geneseo.edu