Campaign for Parks
Protecting and revitalizing
parksfor
future generations
NEW! If you are involved in a park or historic site Friends group or thinking about starting one, PTNY is your go-to resource for building and strengthening your organization. See our new Friends Resource Kit to learn more. |
LATEST NEWS (January 2012): New York’s state park system is getting a much-needed boost from Governor Cuomo. As promised in his State of the State address, the Governor’s proposed 2012-2013 Executive Budget includes $89 million for infrastructure improvements at 48 state parks and historic sites as well as $134 million for the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF).
Parks & Trails New York applauds the Governor for making this smart investment in our state park system and recognizing the strong connection between economic vitality and outdoor recreational opportunities.
Thank the Governor for making a smart investment in New York State by providing funding for infrastructure needs at state parks and historic sites and supporting the EPF. Read more.
About the Campaign for Parks
Parks & Trails New York is committed to protecting and revitalizing the NY State Park System. Every year we work with thousands of volunteers and members who share thesegoals. We bring together the people who use and love parks, Friends organizations that support our state parks and historic sites, and other environmental organizations to promote and protect parks for future generations.
New York’s parks preserve priceless landscapes and ecosystems, provide opportunities to improve our physical health and mental well-being, and enhance our quality of life. Often overlooked, but equally important, is parks’ contribution to the economy. As highlighted in Parks & Trails New York’s report, The NYS Park System: An Economic Asset to the Empire State, our state parks generate nearly $2 billion in economic benefits for the state and local economies, supporting small businesses and creating more than 20,000 jobs in addition to state parks employees.
In 2010, more people than ever—57 million—visited the 178 state parks and 35 historic sites that comprise the state park system. In spite of parks’ overwhelmingly broad-based support they often get short shrift in the state budget process. Years of neglect have led to a $1 billion backlog in infrastructure needs across the park system. Buildings, walkways, bridges, and water systems are in various stages of disrepair.
Overall Goals of the Campaign for Parks
- Ensure that state parks are adequately funded and remain open, clean, safe, and accessible.
- Build a bigger, unified, and more vocal constituency of parks supporters.
- Organize parks Friends groups and other parks supporters into a broad-based, effective force for New York’s parks, mobilized to protect parks’ extraordinary legacy for years to come.
- Build the capacity of park and historic site Friends groups so they can be stronger partners in supporting and advocating for the state park system.
- Increase federal support of parks through funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
- Increase private support of state parks.
- Continue to be a resource for legislators about the contributions of parks to the health, quality of life and economies of their districts and the state.
- Establish a dedicated funding stream for parks. Several years of disproportionate cuts to the State Parks budget has compromised the integrity of the system, making the establishment of a new source of revenue imperative.
History & Accomplishments of the Campaign for Parks:
Parks & Trails New York is proud of our role as the leading statewide advocate for New York’s parks since 1985. Our accomplishments include:
- Keeping parks open in 2010
We led the fight to keep all parks and historic sites open in the face of a proposal to close 88 parks and historic sites to save the state $11 million
- More Capital for Parks
We successfully advocated for increased capital funding for the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation in the 2008-2009 state budget. In the budget, OPRHP received $75.5 million, which was the largest infusion of capital in agency history.
- Park Advocacy Day
Parks & Trails New York organized the first-ever statewide Park Advocacy Day in 2006, bringing park advocates to Albany to educated legislators about the importance of New York’s parks. We have made Parks Advocacy Day an annual event. Find out about Parks Advocacy Day. See photos from Park Advocacy Day 2010.
- You Gotta Have Friends – a newsletter for Friends of the NYS Park System
Parks & Trails New York’s quarterly e-newsletter for Friends of the NYS Park System informs and catalyzes park and historic site friends groups, park users and citizens. Read past issues and subscribe.
- Groundbreaking Reports
Parks & Trails New York has published a series of influential park reports.
This report depicts a state park system in crisis and puts forward a three-fold plan of action to protect and revitalize New York’s parks and historic sites, including permanent funding through a new dedicated funding stream.
We commissioned the Public Economy Research Institute (PERI) to study the economic impact of the NYS State Park system. The resulting report reveals that state parks are economic engines that generate $1.9 billion in economic activity in New York State annually. The findings prove that, for very little investment, parks provide our state with a very large economic return--for every $1 the state invests in them, parks generate $5 in economic activity.
- No Turning Back (2007)
A follow-up to Parks at a Turning Point, this report highlights the progress OPRHP was making in overcoming the capital projects backlog and the need for continued capital funding.
- Parks at a Turning Point (2006)
This influential report documents how years of neglect had contributed to the crumbling infrastructure at State Parks. The report was referenced in a speech by the Governor, and led to an unprecedented commitment by the state to repair and improve the state park system.
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