BEAR MOUNTAIN — Giving workers the chance to sharpen their skills often allows employers to save money by keeping work in-house.
There are even more benefits in the New York State Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation’s Palisades Region, where CSEA members are helping the park to “go green” and improve safety in the process.
CSEA Palisades Parks Local members recently installed their region’s first solar-powered streetlight, providing much-needed light near the regional maintenance garage at Bear Mountain State Park. The installation was a team effort amongst CSEA members working as electricians, carpenters, masons and laborers.
“It was exciting to see our members experienced in different trades work together on what we hope is the first of many solar projects,” said CSEA Palisades Parks Local President Danny Corigliano. “Solar-powered lighting has the potential to improve safety throughout our parks, especially in the more remote areas where we have no existing electric service.”
Among those working on the project was electrician William Caropelo, who completed the NYS & CSEA Partnership for Education and Training’s two-year applied skills trade program. That program and others offered through the Partnership have allowed CSEA members to learn needed skills to further their careers with the state.
— Jessica Ladlee
