HUDSON, NY — June 18, 2026 New York Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Assemblymember Didi Barrett visited Montgomery C. Smith Elementary School on June 10 to tour the historic building and announce $1.6 million in state funding for a new outdoor classroom project.
During the visit, Heastie and Barrett toured the school library, visited a third-grade classroom and viewed the future site of the outdoor learning space.
The outdoor classroom project is estimated to cost $1.7 million. Barrett secured $1.6 million in state funding, with the remaining costs expected to be covered through grants and community donations.
“I think one of our biggest challenges in the Hudson Valley is keeping and attracting young families,” Barrett said. “A lot of it is about the schools, so the more that we can really show that this school and district is an extraordinary place for families and for kids to grow up, that’s part of what this is all about.”
Representatives met with Interim Superintendent Brian Bailey, Montgomery C. Smith Elementary School Principal Mark Brenneman, Parents for a Healthy Hudson co-directors Christine Asbee and Hanna Black, Board of Education President Mark DePace, Board Vice President Matthew Mackerer, Director of Facilities Tyler Kritzman and Hudson Mayor Joseph Ferris.
The outdoor classroom initiative was developed by Parents for a Healthy Hudson, an independent group of parents and caregivers advocating for children’s physical, mental and environmental well-being. The organization promotes outdoor learning opportunities, food and nutrition education, local food sourcing and sustainable practices.
“We intend to do most of our advocacy right now in the elementary school because that is where we would like to see some growth and development in terms of our outdoor learning spaces,” Asbee said during a May 5 Board of Education meeting. “The key aspect of this outdoor learning space is that it will be easy to maintain, so it will not be a burden on facilities.”
The outdoor classroom project is the result of several months of collaboration between Parents for a Healthy Hudson and the school district. Organizers have shared detailed presentations at Board of Education meetings while working closely with school leadership and facilities staff to develop the vision. They have also pursued funding independently through grants, private donations and state support, with the project intended to be completed without drawing from the district’s operating budget.
According to a survey conducted by Parents for a Healthy Hudson, Montgomery C. Smith Elementary School teachers and staff respondents identified ADA-accessible ramps and picnic tables, shade structures, garden beds, water access and writing surfaces as top priorities for the space.
The outdoor classroom is designed to be used year-round, including during winter months, and will be open to the public outside school hours. Organizers said maintenance of the garden will be supported by parent and community volunteers, creating additional opportunities for families to connect with the school.
The funding announcement was met with visible emotion from project co-directors, who embraced Heastie and Barrett with gratitude.
“It means so much because we’ve been working on this for a while,” Black said. “It started as a conversation, and through asking questions and getting connected to the right people, we were able to make it happen. It’s beyond my wildest dreams. At first, we thought we’d just need a couple thousand dollars and some 2-by-4s to get it done. Now we’re going to do it in a long-lasting way, which I think will be really beneficial.”
“In Hudson, we have a unique connection between our neighborhoods, community and school district,” added Asbee. “People are really recognizing our vision, and we’ll be able to answer a lot of those needs.”
Press release – Montgomery C. Smith Elementary School Outdoor Classroom Project Receives State Support
See Youtube video – Didi Barrett and Carl Heastie Tour Hudson
