Hudson River Museum and Groundwork Hudson Valley Receive 2026 Award of Excellence from Greater Hudson Heritage Network
Hudson River Museum and Groundwork Hudson Valley Receive 2026 Award of Excellence from Greater Hudson Heritage Network
YONKERS, NY, October 26, 2026—The Hudson River Museum and Groundwork Hudson Valley are pleased to announce they have been jointly recognized with an Award for Excellence from the Greater Hudson Heritage Network for their collaborative initiative Throwing Shade on Extreme Heat: Designing Shade Structures for Yonkers, which was on view at the Hudson River Museum from September 19, 2025–February 15, 2026.
The exhibition is a result of a collaborative three-year initiative supported by Con Edison that addresses extreme heat challenges in Southwest Yonkers through community-driven solutions and innovative environmental strategies. In 2025, the Hudson River Museum and Groundwork Hudson Valley worked with local community members, representatives from the City of Yonkers, and Starr Whitehouse landscape architecture firm to identify locations and develop designs for shade structures in the city’s—literally—hottest neighborhoods. Following its museum debut, the project was designed to travel to additional venues and have curriculum connections. So far it has travelled to: the Aisling Cultural Center, New York City Museum Educators Roundtables Conference in NYC, Ridge Hill Summer Fest, Yonkers Pride, Blue Team Graduation at Beczak Environmental Education Center, Yonkers Riverfront Library, and Yonkers’s Riverfest.
According to Karin Sosis, Groundwork Hudson Valley’s Executive Director, “Extreme heat is the most dangerous and fatal impact of our changing climate. It disproportionately impacts historically underserved communities causing health risks, financial challenges, and decreasing quality of life for thousands of people who live, work, learn and play in these neighborhoods. Our partnership with the Hudson River Museum is setting a new standard to elevate the design and placement of shade structures that are effective, attractive, and which create pride of place in our communities.”
“Partnership is key to creative problem solving, especially when addressing challenges as urgent and complex as climate change. We are immensely proud of Throwing Shade on Extreme Heat and it’s an honor to share this award with our excellent partners at Groundwork Hudson Valley,” states Masha Turchinsky, Anita K. Hersh Director & CEO of the Hudson River Museum. “We are grateful for the support of Con Edison through their Climate Justice Resiliency Program and to the many community members whose active participation made this project relevant and forward thinking.”
Throwing Shade on Extreme Heat demonstrated how strong partnerships can result in climate-resilient infrastructures that are both effective and elegant. This innovative and community-centered exhibition highlighted the project’s initial phase with background information and proposed designs for shade structures in areas where planting trees is not an option. It featured sections on extreme heat, Groundwork Hudson Valley’s approach to community engagement, and renderings and a model of shade structures designed specifically for Yonkers. The innovative design proposals were a result of community members’ input on both locations and forms. Visitors also had the opportunity to leave their mark by adding comments about their lived experiences with extreme heat and drawing shade structures of their own through a collaborative activity.
Greater Hudson Heritage Network’s mission is to serve the museum and history communities in order to advance professional standards and practices, build the capacity of organizations to meet their missions, and create a network of effective and professional stewards of regional history and culture. Their Awards For Excellence program seeks to recognize and commend exceptional efforts among GHHN members. Awards are made to projects that exemplify creativity and professional vision resulting in a contribution to the preservation and interpretation of the historic scene, material culture, and diversity of the region. The awards will be presented at GHHN’s Annual Conference, What We’re Afraid Of: Challenges, Changes, and the Courage to Face Them, which will be held on Tuesday, October 27 at the Hudson River Museum.
This project is made possible with funding from Con Edison’s Climate Justice Resiliency Program which supports organizations advancing initiatives to mitigate extreme heat, and other climate-related weather events in disadvantaged and marginalized communities in New York City and Westchester County.
Renderings and other related materials were developed by Starr Whitehouse, a landscape architecture, planning, and urban design practice whose mission is to shape beautiful and resilient civic spaces that connect people to nature and each other.
Exhibitions are made possible by assistance provided by the County of Westchester.
Press contact:
Jeana Wunderlich
jwunderlich@hrm.org
(914) 963-4550 x240
Samantha Hoover
shoover@hrm.org
(914) 963-4550 x216
Karen Tumulty
karen@groundworkhv.org
(914) 375-2151
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About the Hudson River Museum
The Hudson River Museum is a preeminent, award-winning cultural institution in Westchester County and the New York metropolitan area. Situated on the banks of the Hudson River in Yonkers, New York, the Museum has a mission to engage, inspire, and connect diverse communities through the power of the arts, sciences, and history.
The HRM offers engaging experiences for every age and interest, with an ever-evolving collection of American art and dynamic exhibitions that range from nineteenth-century paintings to contemporary art installations. The campus, which recently expanded to include a West Wing with stunning exhibition galleries and sweeping views of the Hudson River, features Glenview, an 1877 house on the National Register of Historic Places; a state-of-the-art planetarium; an environmental teaching gallery; and an outdoor amphitheater. The Museum is dedicated to collecting, preserving, exhibiting, and interpreting its multidisciplinary offerings, which are complemented by an array of public and educational programs that encourage creative expression, collaboration, and artistic and scientific discovery. The Museum is accredited by the American Association of Museums (AAM), an honor awarded to only 3% of museums nationwide.
Museum Hours: The Hudson River Museum is open to the public Wednesday–Friday, from 12–5pm, and Saturday–Sunday, from 11am–5pm. On Free First Fridays, the Museum is open and free of charge on the first Friday of the month, from 5–8pm. The Museum is accessible by Metro-North (Hudson Line—Yonkers and Glenview stations), by Bee-Line Bus Route #1, by car, and by bike.
General Admission: Adults $15; Youth (3–18) $8; Seniors (65+) $9; Students (with valid ID) $9; Veterans $9; Children (under 3) FREE; Members FREE; Museums for All* $2, *SNAP/EBT card with photo ID (up to 4 people). Planetarium Tickets: Adults $8; Youth (3–18) $6; Seniors (65+) $7; Students (with valid ID) $7; Veterans $7; Children (under 3) Free. Glenview Tours: Adults $8; Youth (3–18) $6; Seniors (65+) $7; Students (with valid ID) $7; Veterans $7; Children (under 3) Free.
