v STATE BUDGET BULLETIN v

$95 million to go to state parks revitalization 

Parks & Trails New York’s year-long advocacy effort
results in largest capital infusion ever for State Parks!

The enacted budget for parks, completed late last week, includes $95 million for parks revitalization -- the largest capital infusion in the history of the State Park system! The $95 million will be invested in nearly 300 park capital projects -- to rehabilitate aging buildings and infrastructure, create new recreational opportunities, address health and safety concerns, and conserve natural and historic resources in 100 state parks and historic sites. Read the complete list of projects.

We’re thrilled that our advocacy efforts resulted in such an historic parks budget.  And we applaud the Governor and Legislature for thier commitment to revitalize New York’s magnificent but aging state park system, especially in this difficult budget climate.  However, our job is just beginning - we must ensure that this is but the first phase of a multi-year effort to meet the $650 million backlog of infrastructure repairs and rehabilitation.

Overall parks budget holds strong, includes 32 new positions

Total budget appropriations for the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) in the enacted state budget total $381.6 million, a 2.6 percent increase over last year.  This includes funds for new facilities, including 32 positions.  It also includes $8 million for the Walkway Over the Hudson, a project to transform the abandoned Poughkeepsie railroad bridge into the world’s longest pedestrian bridge and eventually a new State Park. 

Environmental Protection Fund approved at record $255 million – parks and trails grant program nixed

The Environmental Protection Fund (EPF), which funds many diverse environmental programs in New York, was approved at $255 million, a $5 million increase over last year. While the EPF holds much good news for park advocates—including $21.2 million for the popular municipal park grant program and nearly $66.6 million for open space acquisition—a $500,000 million grants program for park, historic site, and trail non-profit groups, to be administered by Parks & Trails New York, did not make the final cut. 

Of course, we’re very disappointed and so are parks and trails organizations across the state, but we pledge to work tirelessly to ensure that the program is included next year when the EPF will by law increase from this year’s $255 million to $300 million. 

Unfortunately, a $125 million EPF “sweep,” or transfer of EPF funds to the General Fund, proposed by the Executive to bolster the state budget bottom line this year, remained intact. 

Thank you!

Thank you to everyone who wrote letters, made phone calls and participated in our Park and Trail Advocacy Days.  Your speaking out made a difference - legislators really do listen to their constituents!

Please thank the Governor and your legislators for their vision and commitment to parks. 

And, please support Parks & Trails New York’s Campaign for Parks.  We rely on your support to keep our advocacy campaigns going strong.

Robin Dropkin
Executive Director