Cuts to state parks operations hurt public, state economy

Faced with a 15% reduction in operating funds, State Parks has been forced to shorten seasons and reduce hours at 100 of the state's 213 parks and historic sites. Read more about the cuts. The agency is also anticipating losing 134 positions, part of statewide personnel reductions ordered by Governor Paterson.

This is not the time to be cutting services at state parks. The weather is warming up and many New Yorkers are looking for inexpensive, close-to-home outdoor recreation. These cuts are going to hit hardest those who are least able to afford other recreational opportunities.

As our recent report on the economic impact of parks shows, park visitors make significant contributions to the state and local economies. In these difficult economic times maintaining or even expanding, the services provided by the state park system would be a sound investment in New York's economy and quality of life.

Grab your binoculars – Great birding trails

Trails are one of the best places to enjoy the hottest new sport - birding. According to the US Fish and Wildlife Service there are more than 50 million birders, making it one of the most popular forms of recreation in the country. Whether you're new to the sport or someone whose life list is already long, New York's multi-use trails offer the perfect place for bird watching.

It's the diversity of habitat that makes multi-use trails such great places for bird watching. In just a few miles, many trails pass through several habitats - forests, shrubland, wetlands, open fields, ponds, lakes, streams, or even sand dunes --- providing multiple opportunities to see and hear a large number of species in a single outing.

A number of trail organizations are catering to this growing user group by offering species lists and events specifically for birders. The Mendon Foundation, which manages the Lehigh Valley Trail near Rochester, has teamed up with a local naturalist to offer special birding outings. For the Catharine Valley Trail, a member of the Chemung Valley Audubon Society described several unique species of the more than 100 different birds found along the trail south of Watkins Glen in central New York. The website of the Harlem Valley Rail Trail presents an extensive list of birds and wildlife that can be seen from the trail in the Hudson Valley. In Chautauqua County in western New York, more than 175 species of birds have been identified along the Sheldon Trail, managed by Chautauqua Rails to Trails, making it one of the top birding spots in the region.

Environment scores key wins in state budget

The approved 2009-2010 state budget includes several hard-won environmental victories:

• A $222 million Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) will support an array of critical environmental programs, including $21 million for municipal parks, with assurance of no EPF "sweeps" into the general fund

• A Bigger, Better Bottle Bill that updates the state's bottle deposit law to include water bottles and returns the unclaimed nickels to the state

Parks & Trails New York, as part of a statewide coalition of environmental organizations, worked hard to ensure these green victories.

Parks & Trails New York Executive Director Robin Dropkin, second from right, first row, joins Governor Paterson, key legislative leaders, and representatives of other environmental organizations in an Earth Day press conference to celebrate two key environmental victories: a $222 million Environmental Protection Fund and a Bigger, Better Bottle Bill.

Thank you to all our members and friends who lent their voices to the effort resulting in this year's green victories!

Speak out for bike/ped funding

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is preparing a new six-year transportation funding bill, previously the "TEA" bills, with a vote in the House expected as early as May. Those close to the issue say that we cannot take for granted the inclusion of programs like Transportation Enhancements (TE) and Recreational Trails (RT) that have been a major source of funding for bike-ped projects since 1991. Eighteen trail projects were recently awarded funding from the TE Program. We must keep these programs alive, so call or email your Senators and Congressional representatives and tell them how much these popular programs have benefited and are supported by your community.

Use National Trails Day, June 6, to invite your elected officials to join you on the trail. When they're casting their vote you want them to remember all the happy, satisfied voters they met.

No more loss of parkland!

Legislative forum promises improvements to parkland alienation process

Parks & Trails New York and New Yorkers for Parks hosted a forum in April for state legislators to consider improving the process by which communities discontinue the use of parkland. State Parks Commissioner Carol Ash was the keynote speaker; panelists included Assemblymen Richard Brodsky and Sam Hoyt and environmental attorney Christopher Rizzo.

The forum was an opportunity for legislators, state officials and parks advocates to share experiences and ideas, and make suggestions as to how the parkland alienation process could be improved. The goal is to make alienation a more rigorous undertaking - and make alienation less likely to occur.

Parks & Trails New York executive director Robin Dropkin and New Yorkers for Parks Executive Director Christian DiPalermo welcome participants to the forum.

6th Annual Canalway Trail Celebration largest yet – join the fun

The 2009 Canalway Trail Celebration, which coincides with National Trails Day on June 6, will consist of more than 50 events throughout the trail corridor this year. Check out the full list of these events on Parks & Trails New York's website and join the fun at a location near you! The Celebration is organized by the NYS Canal Corporation and the Canalway Trails Association New York as well and Parks & Trails New York, with support from the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor.

Support our Green Partners – businesses that support New York's parks and trails!

Lockport Locks & Erie Canal Cruises

The Erie Canal was one of the wonders of the world when it opened in 1825, and it still provides unparalleled scenery, historic sites, and recreational opportunities. One of the best ways to experience the Canal is on a cruise with Lockport Locks Erie Canal Cruises. The cruise includes "locking through" and being raised the 49 feet elevation of the Niagara Escarpment (the same one that creates Niagara Falls) in the only double set of locks on the Erie Canal.

Lockport Locks, easily accessible from the Canalway Trail, also offers Canalside dining either outdoors or at the Canalside Cafe & Pub, a veranda banquet room with 100 windows directly overlooking the Canal, and facilities for meetings, reunions, and other parties.