The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) has awarded Vassar a major grant through its Zoos, Botanical Gardens and Aquaria (ZBGA) Capital Program, which advances strategic capital improvements to help New York organizations in providing robust educational programs and natural heritage collections in a safe and accessible environments. This grant will support the construction of a pavilion on the north end of the Preserve at Vassar. The pavilion will be a visible anchor for the site from Hooker Avenue/Route 376 and provide needed shelter for education and outreach programs while also serving the activities of Vassar partners and affiliates, including the Poughkeepsie Farm Project.

The Pavilion is part of a larger project—the Gateway to the Preserve, a philanthropic initiative embraced by the Class of 1971—which combines infrastructure improvements with ecological restoration while showcasing sustainability at Vassar. From the new roundabout with green islands and crosswalks to the ZBGA-supported pavilion, these infrastructure improvements will improve the entry experience, making nature more accessible to the Vassar community and residents of the Poughkeepsie area. The ZBGA Capital Program is funded through an appropriation from the State of New York, and supplements OPRHP’s ZBGA Operational Support grant program, which elevates and expands the quantity and quality of natural heritage learning opportunities available to the public. The Preserve at Vassar has been a ZBGA Operational Support grantee since 2021.