$2.6 million award will help with capital project
Storm King Art Center has been awarded $2.6 million in state funding to put toward its capital project for the construction of two new buildings and to enhance the experience of Cornwall residents and visitors. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority awarded the art center $600,000 while $2 million came from the Regional Economic Development Council initiative.
Last year the art center unveiled its master plan, a long-term strategy to address the museum’s substantial growth over the last decade. The goal of the project is to provide the local community, visitors, students, and artists with the incredible experience of art in nature. The master plan is also designed to protect the art center’s people, art, and landscape while improving the visitor experience.
Part of that project includes the construction of new buildings which are part of Phase 1 of the project, which was approved by the Town of Cornwall Planning Board.
Phase 1 includes a new consolidated parking area to streamline visitor entrance, as well as a welcome pavilion for ticketing and restroom facilities. This will transition Storm King to a park-then-pay entry sequence and support visitors’ orientation needs upon arrival.
The plan calls for the consolidation of all the existing parking lots to create a new north parking lot with a total of 587 spaces.
This will be located at the north end of the property.
By switching to a park-then-pay model, cars will be able to stream in from Orrs Mills Road, onto Old Pleasant Hill Road, and then file directly into the parking lot without causing congestion on roads leading to the grounds.
The plan also calls for the construction of a Conservation, Fabrication, and Maintenance (CFM) Building, a first for Storm King. The CFM building, which will be located at the south end of the site, enhances the capacity to care for the art center’s collection and support the artists. There will be direct access to Old Pleasant Hill Road off of Bunny Road.
Planning around the construction timeline and budget is still ongoing, so no announcement has been made regarding breaking ground on the project. Fund raising efforts also continue.
