Shandaken received an $18,420 donation from the former Shandaken Reform Church of Mount Tremper at the Town Board’s Monday, June 1, meeting, with money intended to support parks and recreation projects.
The gift nearly matches the town’s Parks and Recreation Committee’s $22,000 annual budget and could help fund improvements at several town parks, said Samantha Awand-Gortel, the committee’s chair. The all-volunteer committee works with funding allocated through the town budget.
The committee has not yet decided exactly how to use the money. Awand-Gortel said she plans to meet with committee members in July and may also speak with members of the former church about possible uses for the funds.
One possibility, she said, is additional renovation work at town parks. She pointed to Smith Park, Big Indian Park, and Parish Field as places that could benefit from upgrades.
“We have a lot of projects and things that we’re trying to accomplish,” Awand-Gortel said. “With a new committee and new ideas, we’re just trying to make our parks as inviting as possible through pure volunteerism basically.”
Awand-Gortel said she was surprised by the size of the donation.
“I was completely touched and amazed by the dollar amount and by their generosity to just hand it over to our department,” she said.
Because the donation was made to the town’s general fund, the money could legally be spent on any town expense. Deputy Supervisor Robert Drake said the town intends to honor the church’s wishes.
“This is an incredibly appreciated and unexpected donation money. We’re going to use it the way the donor intends,” Drake said. “We look forward to turning that generosity into improvements to our parks that will last generations to come.”
The Shandaken Reformed Church closed in 2022 after years of declining membership and financial difficulties. The church building at 5411 Route 212 in Mount Tremper was sold in 2025 to a private resident for $395,000.
After paying its expenses and legally dissolving, church members agreed to donate 10% of the remaining proceeds as a tithe, with money going to a family in need and to the town for parks and recreation projects. A tithe is a practice in many Judeo-Christian traditions in which a portion of income is donated to charity or religious purposes.
Jeanne Davis, a member of the former church, presented the donation to the board.
“There’s always been a good relationship between the Shandaken Reformed Church and the town of Shandaken,” Davis said. “It gives me great pleasure to present you with part of the tithe from the sale of the Shandaken Reformed Church.”
Kyle Bredberg is an intern and contributing reporter. You can reach him at reporting@theoverlooknews.com.
