research dossier

FRIENDS OF TACONIC STATE PARK

COPAKE FALLS, NY · EIN 300548955 · Form 990EZ · FY2025 · NTEE N11 · Recreation & Sports · Micro (<$100K) · friendsoftsp.org

revenue

$53K

expenses

$18K

net assets

$424K

employees

—

mission · from form 990

THE MISSION OF THE FRIENDS OF TACONIC STATE PARK IS TO ENHANCE AND STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY BY SUPPORTING THE ACTIVITIES OF THE TACONIC STATE PARK IN COPAKE FALLS, NY WITH AND EMPHASIS ON THE PRESERVATION OF THE HISOTRIC COPAKE IRON WORKS. THE FRIENDS SEEK TO BE A VOICE FOR THE PARK BY ACTING AS A LIAISON WITH GOVERNMENTAL BODIES, INSTITUTIONS, SCHOOLS, BUSINESSES, REGIONAL GROUPS, AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS OF COMMON CONCERN.

profile · synthesized from sources

FRIENDS OF TACONIC STATE PARK supports Taconic State Park in Copake Falls, NY, with a focus on preserving the historic Copake Iron Works. The organization acts as a liaison between the park and governmental bodies, institutions, schools, businesses, and regional groups to strengthen community engagement and support park activities.

named programs · 2 · from sources

What they call their work

Park Advocacy and Liaison Services

Acting as a bridge between Taconic State Park and external entities such as government agencies, schools, businesses, and regional organizations to promote support and collaboration.

Preservation of Copake Iron Works

Efforts focused on maintaining and restoring the historic Copake Iron Works within Taconic State Park, including advocacy, fundraising, and coordination with preservation experts.

activities · 10 groups

What they do

Railroad and Canal Heritage Preservation 2 activities
- Operate the Pomeroy Family Railroad miniature train attraction
  
  Constructs, operates, and maintains a 950-foot loop narrow-gauge miniature railroad that replicates the historic iron ore rail line, running weekends from Memorial Day through mid-October with educational narration.
- Provide interpretive and educational exhibits at Copake Iron Works
  
  Operates museum exhibits in the Engine House featuring 19th-century artifacts, a diorama room with a 3D replica of the 1870s village, and interpretive signage; offers docent-led tours from Memorial Day to mid-November.
Historic Site Designation Advocacy 1 activity
- Advocate for historic designation and preservation recognition
  
  Secured listing of the Copake Iron Works site and 18 surrounding acres on the State and National Register of Historic Sites (2007), supported its designation as a National Heritage Area (2016), and promoted its status as a designated Hudson Valley National Heritage Area Site.
Guided Historic Site Tours 1 activity
- Deliver self-guided and audio walking tours of the Iron Works Heritage Trail
  
  Provides a self-guided walking tour of the Copake Iron Works Historic District with downloadable maps and an audio tour featuring 15 stops covering industrial history, geology, Indigenous peoples, and local heritage.
Recreational Trail Development and Maintenance 1 activity
- Design and install interpretive trail infrastructure
  
  Designed and installed 25 interpretive signs along the three-mile Iron Works Heritage Trail connecting Copake Iron Works and Bash Bish Falls State Park, plus printed and downloadable trail maps.
Museum Volunteer Engagement & Operations Support 1 activity
- Engage volunteers in public education and site stewardship
  
  Recruits and engages volunteers to share local history with visitors and support operations at the Copake Iron Works National Heritage Area Site.
Historic Preservation Support Grants 1 activity
- Fund installation of historical roadside markers
  
  Funds the purchase and installation of historical roadside markers at key locations through grant programs such as the William S. Pomeroy Foundation Roadside Marker Grants Program.
Local History Museum Operations 1 activity
- Operate and maintain the Copake Iron Works Historic Site and Visitor Center
  
  Operates the Copake Iron Works Historic Site and Visitor Center year-round during daylight hours, including maintaining facilities and providing public access for educational and recreational purposes.
Historic Building Restoration and Preservation 1 activity
- Preserve and stabilize historic structures at Copake Iron Works
  
  Preserves, stabilizes, and protects key historic structures including the blast furnace, Engine House, and cornerstones through structural interventions and protective construction.
Local History Preservation and Education 1 activity
- Produce historical research and educational media
  
  Published articles and produced a video documentary on the history of the Copake Iron Works and its associated railroads to support public education and preservation awareness.
Outdoor Recreation Access Promotion 1 activity
- Promote recreational access to Taconic State Park
  
  Supports recreational use of Taconic State Park by promoting camping, hiking, biking via the Harlem Valley Rail Trail, and visitor facilities.

financials · form 990EZ · fy2025

revenue

Total revenue$53K

Contributions & grants$34K65%

Program service revenue$3K5%

Investment income$16K30%

Other revenue—

expenses

Total expenses$18K

Program expenses—

Admin / overhead—

Fundraising—

Salaries & benefits—

Grants paid out—

balance sheet

Total assets$424K

Cash—

Investments—

Liabilities—

Net assets$424K

5 years on record · 2021–2025 · YoY revenue -28.1%

leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025

Who runs it

board members · 4

BENEDICT GEDAMINSKI — DIRECTOR
BRENDA SHUFELT — DIRECTOR
BRIAN BOOM — DIRECTOR
MARCIA BECKER — DIRECTOR

relationships · 18

Who they work with

Church of St. John in the Wilderness Partner — Historic site included within the Copake Iron Works Historic District.
Cielo and Hitchens Partner — Authored a report on conditions, assessment, and recommendations for Taconic State Park.
Feeding America Network — Member of national food bank network
Felicia Doughty Kingsbury Partner — Authored the 1951 historical work "Furnace Foundations" related to the park.
Frederick E. Sutherland Partner — Collaborated on research related to the historical archaeology of the Copake Iron Works and historic railroads of Taconic State Park.
Gobrecht and Scofield Partner — Authored a report on the historical significance and development potential of the Copake Iron Works at Taconic State Park.
Grady Health System Partner — Integrated food prescriptions into primary care
Harlem Valley Rail Trail Partner — Recreational trail that passes through Taconic State Park and is promoted by Friends of Taconic State Park.
Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area Network — Copake Iron Works is designated as a site within this congressionally mandated National Heritage Area.
National Park Service Government — Partnered with the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area in awarding the Copake Iron Works its national heritage designation.
New York State Bureau of Historic Sites Partner — Assisted in the design and installation of interpretive signage at the Copake Iron Works site.
Roeliff Jansen Historical Society Partner — Coordinates operating hours to allow visitors to tour both the Copake Iron Works Museum and Roeliff Jansen Historical Society sites during the same visit.
Taconic State Park Government — Operates in partnership with Taconic State Park, providing museum materials and trail maps at the park office.
Taconic State Park Partner — Primary partner organization supported by Friends of Taconic State Park through advocacy, fundraising, and promotion.
Taconic State Park Partner — Primary partner organization supported through programming and advocacy.
USDA Government — Primary grant funder
William G. Pomeroy Foundation Funder — Provided a significant contribution to complete the construction of the Pomeroy Family Railroad.
William S. Pomeroy Foundation Funder — Funded the purchase and installation of roadside markers through its Roadside Marker Grants Program.

strategies · 3

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

Community Advocacy and Liaison Model

methodology: community_liaison_advocacy
By serving as a liaison between Taconic State Park and governmental bodies, schools, businesses, and regional organizations, the organization advances park interests and secures support, because trusted intermediation strengthens institutional collaboration and resource alignment.
Heritage-Based Public Engagement for Preservation

methodology: heritage_interpretation
By engaging the public through historically accurate reconstructions, interpretive signage, audio tours, and educational programming at the Copake Iron Works Historic District, the organization fosters stewardship and preservation, because immersive heritage experiences build emotional and civic investment in site conservation.
Low-Barrier Volunteer Engagement

methodology: community-engaged_volunteering
By engaging volunteers without prior experience in sharing local history, the organization expands community involvement and sustains programming, because lowering participation barriers increases volunteer recruitment and fosters inclusive ownership of cultural resources.