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NEWS from the Office of the New York State Comptroller
Contact: Press Office 518-474-4015

DiNapoli Announces Oil Spill Fund Agreement with Dutchess County and the Town of Hyde Park

Abandoned Gas Station to be Converted to Community Green Space

February 10, 2016

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today announced an agreement between the New York Environmental Protection and Spill Compensation Fund (Oil Spill Fund), Dutchess County and the Town of Hyde Park to convert an abandoned gas station located at 1381 Route 9G to community green space.

The Oil Spill Fund, which is administered by DiNapoli, has paid $500,000 for cleanup and petroleum remediation efforts at the gas station and neighboring properties dating back to 1978. The Town of Hyde Park has agreed to demolish the building and landscape the site. 

“This is an important collaboration with Dutchess County and the Town of Hyde Park to convert a neglected and abandoned property,” said DiNapoli. “This effort will ensure that the once polluted land will be a safe place for residents to enjoy.”

Dutchess County foreclosed on the property for unpaid taxes and transferred ownership to the Town of Hyde Park in January. The town has agreed to remove the remaining structure left by previous owners and convert the land to an open green space for community use. 

According to the agreement, once the structure is removed, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation will assess whether any additional cleanup is needed. The Oil Spill Fund will then pay for the completion of any further cleanup.

“We are thrilled this parcel, abandoned for years, will now provide a new gateway and future enjoyment for residents of Hyde Park for years to come,” Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro said. “I thank Comptroller DiNapoli for his efforts to assist Dutchess County and the Town of Hyde Park convert this parcel to open space. This is a great example of how residents can benefit when governments work together – in this case, the state, county and town – and I look forward to similar partnerships in the future as we work together improve our shared quality of life and the character of our community.”

“This is a wonderful example of government working together to solve problems. The Town is very appreciative of the efforts of all involved, including the New York State DEC and the Oil Spill Fund, County Executive Marcus Molinaro and the County Attorney’s Office, for their willingness to work with us to solve a vexing problem.  We hope that this solution will be a prototype for the adaptive reuse of other blighted properties in the county,” said Aileen Rohr, Supervisor, Town of Hyde Park.

“This highly-visible, unkempt site with its dilapidated garage became a top-priority concern for residents of the surrounding neighborhoods, whose quality of life and property values were significantly affected.  No single agency could solve this problem alone, but by putting our heads together, we have created a long-term solution that will benefit hundreds of homeowners,” said Emily Svenson, Ward 1 Councilwoman, Town of Hyde Park.

About the Oil Spill Fund

The Oil Spill Fund is responsible for protecting the environment and public health by ensuring the expeditious cleanup of petroleum spills. The fund is also used to compensate spill victims for their financial losses when the spiller will not and to seek reimbursement from spillers for oil spill cleanup costs.
The fund was established in 1978. Learn about the Oil Spill Fund.