Cultural Landscapes    Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Sites are located in an extremely scenic region of New York State, recognized through such program as the state Coastal Zone Management Program, Scenic Areas of Statewide Significance program, and the Hudson Valley Greenway initiative. Protection of aesthetic resources such as landscapes and vistas is critical to the preservation of the park scene. Internally, the maintenance of grounds, gardens, and overlooks is consistent with original landscape designs as far as information permits. Additional landscape studies are proposed for HOFR and ELRO. Historic base maps on paper are available for all three units. However, these maps have some deficiencies and are in need of updates. A Cultural Landscape Report (CLR) for the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt NHS was completed in 1999 and will be available in 2002. A CLR for the Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site was completed in 1994. A CLR for Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site was completed in 1981 by Kane & Carruth P.C. Landscape Architects, and was revised by the Denver Service Center in 1983-4. It does not meet current NPS standards for this document, and needs revision. A historic grounds report for the Formal Gardens at Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site was completed in 1987 by Reiley & Associates. Protection of aesthetic resources such as landscapes and vistas is critical to the preservation of the park environment. Internally, the maintenance of grounds, gardens, and overlooks is generally consistent with original landscape designs. The notable exception is the viewshed from the FDR Home southwest toward the Mid-Hudson Bridge in Poughkeepsie. It was FDR's desire that this view be preserved, and a deed restriction on an adjacent, privately-owned parcel enables NPS to cut or top trees to maintain this wish. However, lack of funding has prevented this area from being completely maintained. A 20-acre meadow restoration project completed in 1989 partially addressed this need. The NPS has acquired original Roosevelt farmland in 1988-89, and these have been restored to their historic use for hay production. The Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt NHS and Eleanor Roosevelt NHS are in need in Cultural Landscape Reports. A Cultural landscape Report for VAMA was completed in 1994. The most serious issue facing the park's aesthetic resource is not from within; it is the constant threat from local and regional land development projects. This growth continues, and the park can expect continuing pressure on its aesthetic resource, especially scenic vistas. The park has been actively involved in the NYS version of the National Environmental Policy Act through State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) during local site plan review. The park has also worked cooperatively with the owners of the Hyde Park Mall shopping center for landscape management to provide screening of the property from the FDR Home. Regionally, some efforts are being made to prevent the loss of scenic landscapes through such NYS initiatives as the Hudson Valley Greenway project and the Statewide Areas of Scenic Significance program. Perhaps the best tool the park has is the knowledge that other agencies, organizations, and individuals recognize its unique, nationally significant visual resources.	Natural Resource Index Introduction Vegetation Reptiles & Amphibians  Mammals   Fish  Invertebrates   Birds  Hydrology Cultural Landscapes Inventory & Monitoring Research & Data Needs Geographic Information System
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