Project Kiana is a completed assessment of 2.85 acres of underutilized land along the Hutchinson River in Mount Vernon—identified by residents as a place with untapped potential. The site includes freshwater wetlands and important habitat, but also faces challenges from flooding, invasive species, and historic infrastructure impacts.

With support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Long Island Sound Community Impact Fund, we evaluated the site’s ecological conditions and opportunities to inform future community-driven possibilities for restoration, public access, and climate resilience.

We’re excited to share an interactive StoryMap of the results of this project with you on April 15. You can also read an opinion piece on the value of urban conservation that highlights Project Kiana, and explore the RFPs issued for the various assessments that made this work possible.

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About Westchester Land Trust

Westchester Land Trust works with public and private partners to preserve land in perpetuity and to enhance the natural resources in Westchester and eastern Putnam counties—a densely populated region under persistent threat from the pressures of development. Founded in 1988, WLT has preserved 9,523 acres of open space. More than 1,148 acres of land are owned by the organization which are free and open to the public year-round. WLT was one of the first land trusts in the nation to receive accreditation through the Land Trust Accreditation Commission.