GREAT BUDGET NEWS
FOR NEW YORK'S PARKS AND TRAILS

We did it!  Who could have predicted the fantastic result of our year-long advocacy efforts, which began with publication of our landmark report, Parks at a Turning Point, and continued with the launching of the New York Trails Coalition. We’re very proud of what we’ve accomplished.  Thank you all for your help and support! 

Governor Spitzer’s budget includes a major initiative for New York’s state parks and an exciting new grant program for park and trail organizations.   

Revitalizing Parks

Governor Spitzer took the first step in the long overdue process of restoring the state’s parks by including $100 million in capital funding for state park projects.  The projects, which are located in all 11 state park regions, range from restoration of natural areas at Niagara Reservation to major improvements in the Jones Beach sewer system.  Read the complete list of projects.

This infusion of capital comes at a time when the park system is showing visible and measurable signs of decades of deferred maintenance and lack of staff. Over the past 15 years, 29 new parks were added to the system, for a total of 178 parks and 325,000 acres, yet the park agency’s capital budget today, adjusted for inflation, is half what it was in 1992.  The result is 750 urgent capital projects totaling $650 million.

In addition to the capital funding for state parks, the Governor’s proposed budget adds 32 new park positions so that the parks agency can begin opening some of the many new facilities acquired over the last decade.  Plus funding for Governor’s Island and Hudson River Park in NYC.

Grants for park and trail groups

This year’s budget has even more good news for New York’s parks and trails.  In addition to more than $27 million allocated to the long-standing and popular municipal park grant program of the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF), the Governor has had the vision to apportion $500,000 from the EPF for grants to strengthen not-for-profit park and trail organizations and friends groups, which Parks & Trails New York will administer.

Never before have park and trail groups had an opportunity like this!  These grants will go a long way toward enhancing groups’ vitality and sustainability and help ensure the success of the many projects they undertake. We thank the Governor for recognizing the key role that not-for-profits play in developing, maintaining, and promoting outdoor recreation resources.

Make your voice heard

We’ve accomplished a lot but we're not done yet – not by a long shot.  We need your help to make sure that the funding for these initiatives is included in the final state budget. 

Please mark your calendar for two advocacy days in Albany: Park Advocacy Day on March 4 and Trail Advocacy Day on March 18.  Stay tuned for details.

In the meantime, please thank the Governor for his vision and commitment to parks and trails. 

Then, let your legislators know that parks and trails are important to you and that you support the park and trail initiatives in the proposed state budget. 

Lastly, support Parks & Trails New York’s Campaign for Parks and our trail advocacy efforts.

Thanks!  These are exciting times for New York’s parks and trails.

Robin Dropkin
Executive Director