Our Work

Protecting, expanding, and enhancing a network of parks, trails and green spaces

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As the leading statewide advocate for parks and trails, Parks & Trails New York strives to ensure that everyone, residents and visitors alike, has access to a world-class network of parks and trails, now and for generations to come. To reach that goal we focus our work in three areas: advocacy, support and promotion.

Advocacy

PTNY is your voice in Albany and throughout the state for New York’s parks and trails.

PTNY plays an active role in the annual state budget process, advocating for park- and trail- related legislation. Our annual Advocacy Agenda lays out our priority issues and legislation and serves as a basis for testimony at hearings, meetings with lawmakers and annual advocacy days, as well as letters in support of or opposition to projects and legislation.

In all our advocacy efforts, we strive to provide park friends groups and regional trail committees with the tools and information they need when it matters most.

Support: How we help

Providing technical assistanceand support to communities and grassroots groups has been at the core of PTNY’s work since it was founded in 1985.

Whether through landmark reports or communications with our experienced staff, we continue to be the go to organization for park and trail organizations, providing important resources and sharing our extensive network of contacts.

PTNY’s unique Growing the Grassroots Capacity-Building Grant Program has provided funding to support the efforts of park and trail groups to increase their visibility, generate community support, and grow their cadre of members and volunteers.

Promotion

New York’s parks and trails are second to none and we want everyone to know it!

Our popularCycling the Erie Canal and Cycling the Hudson Valley guidebooks, Cycle the Erie Canal annual bike tour and planning website, and online TrailFinder map provide ways to plan a fun and enjoyable outing whether you’re cycling, hiking or visiting by car.

Each July more than 500 cyclists of all ages, from across the country and the world, join us on our eight-day Cycle the Erie Canal annual tour to enjoy historic villages, beautiful scenery, and first-class cycling on this fully-supported trip.

We also organize events that bring together thousands of volunteers to enhance and beautify our parks and trails.