New York State’s parks, trails, and historic sites belong to everyone, and Park and Trail Partnership Grants are helping make that vision a reality. The grants fund projects that create a better sense of inclusion and equity and encourage investment in better infrastructure to make our spaces accessible to all.
The $2.5 million grant program is in its 11th round and continues to grow in requests and funding. We encourage DEIA projects through our webinars, the application, and communications with applicants. We love to see projects making important strides in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility–from improving physical access to telling a more inclusive and accurate story of New York’s past. Here are a few examples:
Point au Roche State Park (Plattsburgh)
On June 21, 2025, the Friends of Point au Roche State Park announced the official opening of a newly installed adaptive use kayak launch. The mechanism was installed on the shores of Lake Champlain to allow for easier, safe access for those with disabilities to transfer from a wheelchair into a kayak. The launch is not only reserved for those with physical disabilities, but can also provide better support and stability for elderly users and beginners.
In their final report to close out the grant, the Friends group said, “The launch will allow the challenged community access to recreation on the lake that is not readily available within miles. It will bring more people into the park and they can develop an appreciation for the value of the open spaces to fitness and mental health. Appreciation means when there are challenges threatening our parks, citizens will step up to support the park.”
This project not only expands recreational access but embodies the idea that outdoor spaces should be welcoming and inclusive for all–regardless of physical ability.
Letchworth State Park (Livingston and Wyoming Counties)
New York’s Our Whole History initiative is helping untold stories take the spotlight at state parks and historic sites.
Letchworth State Park, often called the “Grand Canyon of the East,” is home to awe-inspiring natural beauty, but it’s also land rich in Indigenous history, much of which remains overlooked by the general public.
The Friends of Letchworth partnered with Perry Ground, a Haudenosaunee storyteller and cultural educator, to produce a series of high-quality videos portraying Haudenosaunee life, traditions, and culture. Unlike traditional interpretive media, these videos are written and presented by Haudenosaunee people themselves, ensuring authenticity and centering Indigenous perspectives.The videos now run on kiosks and screens at the onsite museum and are shared with schools in the area. The introductory video is available to view.
This project is a meaningful step toward telling a fuller, more accurate story of the land and its people.
Jay Heritage Center (Rye, NY)
At the historic Jay Estate in Rye, the Jay Heritage Center has long blended history, environmental stewardship, and social justice education.
These award-winning Jay Estate Gardens are laid out as three “rooms” displaying historic plantings, low hedges, vegetable rows, with paths weaving in and out of the rooms. With the launch of the new garden, Jay Heritage Center received requests from visitors with limited abilities, which the pathways simply could not accommodate due to their vulnerability to rain and erosion.
The group received a $150,000 Park & Trail Partnership Grant in 2022 to build the pathways to ADA standards using water permeable, stabilized decomposed granite. These upgrades will allow visitors with wheelchairs and walkers to safely navigate and experience the historic gardens both inside and outside of the stone walls for years to come.
This project ensures that access to history, beauty, and dialogue is not limited by physical barriers.
Schuyler Mansion (Albany, NY)
Albany’s Schuyler Mansion, once home to Revolutionary War general Philip Schuyler and his daughter Eliza–wife of Alexander Hamilton–is taking meaningful steps toward inclusive storytelling and accessible visitation.
Uncovering stories that have been tucked away for decades, The Schuyler Mansion explores and shares the stories of the enslaved people who lived and worked there. These stories, often overlooked, are being brought to light through educational programs, exhibits, and historical research. Visitors can learn about the daily lives, agency, and attempts at freedom of the individuals enslaved by the Schuyler family.
In 2023 the Friends of Schyler Mansion was awarded a grant to design and produce hands-on materials to enhance the tour experience and make it more accessible to a wider audience. Visitors can now see and feel replica drawings found within the servants’ quarters that have been (and still are) off-limits to the public. These drawings were etched via woodcarving into blocks that can be passed around to the tour groups.
A collection of historic textile materials is also now available to give tour attendees the ability to touch and experience what the various draperies, upholstery fabric, and other decor would have been like in the 18th century. The Friends partnered with the Center for Independence to gain guidance into the best methods to improve the tours for people who learn differently or have visual impairments.
These projects are part of a growing movement in New York’s parks and historic sites to create spaces that are truly for everyone. As DEIA becomes more deeply integrated into the missions of public lands and cultural institutions, these grants demonstrate the power of collaboration–between government, nonprofits, and local communities–to build a more inclusive New York.