Meet Our Centennial Honoree: Lucy Rockefeller Waletzky, M.D.

October 04, 2021
New York-New Jersey Trail Conference
New York-New Jersey Trail Conference

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Meet Our Centennial Honoree: Lucy Rockefeller Waletzky, M.D.

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Dr. Lucy Rockefeller Waletzky will be honored at the Trail Conference's Centennial Gala.

On Saturday, October 16, the Trail Conference will be holding our Centennial Gala at the Bear Mountain Inn. To mark this milestone, we will be honoring Dr. Lucy Rockefeller Waletzky—philanthropist, environmentalist, and longtime Trail Conference champion.

Dr. Waletzky is Chair of the New York State Council of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation since March of 2007. She has been Chair of the Taconic Region Parks Commission since February of 2004. Dedicated to protecting the integrity of our region’s natural areas, Dr. Waletzky has had tremendous impact through her life’s work.

Working to preserve the northeast corner of the Rockefeller State Park Preserve, she donated 84 acres to New York State and 10 acres to Westchester County, which expanded parking for the North County Trail Way bike path.

As a board member of the National Audubon Society, she created, funded, and developed a program for both the National Audubon Society and New York Audubon to stop the use of pesticides on home lawns and improve habitat for birds.

In her role as a member of the Westchester County Pest Management Committee, she created, developed, and implemented an annual No Pesticides Day.

While a member of the Friends of the Rockefeller State Park Preserve, she focused on birds, wildlife habitat, and the health of the forests, meadows, wetlands, and streams through a master plan update and 4-year biodiversity study of Preserve and Family lands.

A loyal supporter and advocate for the Trail Conference for nearly three decades, she is particularly dedicated to the conservation and preservation of the East Hudson region and was instrumental in creating our East Hudson Community Trails Program.  As a key partner in our efforts, Lucy’s involvement has ensured success of the Trail Conference’s Bear Mountain Trails Project, Trails for People, and Darlington Schoolhouse, projects that have allowed our organization to build community, deepen the public’s appreciation for the environment, and strengthen our ability to connect people with nature.

Dr. Waletzky has been a recipient of the Governor's Parks and Preservation Award, the State Council of Parks Commission Chair Award, the Friends of Westchester County Parks Best Friend Award, Olana’s Frederic Church Award, and The Land Conservation Award, given by The Open Space Institute.

Our Centennial Gala is sold out, but you can still join in the celebration by purchasing a ticket for our virtual experience. The virtual experience includes a video of the event and a gift box to enjoy at your leisure. Thank you for your support!