Big news for New York’s public lands: this year’s Park and Trail Partnership Grants are the largest yet!

Thanks to a $2.25 million investment through Park and Trail Partnership Grants (PTPG), 27 nonprofit partners across the state will be able to take on new projects that improve access, strengthen stewardship, and create better experiences for everyone who visits. In addition, grant recipients also raised more than $800,000 in private matching funds to support these projects.

Over the past decade, PTPG has helped turn big ideas into real, on-the-ground improvements. This year is no exception. Here are a few exciting projects on the horizon:

Accessibility and inclusion remain at the heart of the Park and Trail Partnership Grants program.

Moreau Lake State Park

Clermont State Historic Site

Letchworth State Park

At Moreau Lake State Park, funding will support improvements to an accessible and inclusive trail, including signage with printed and raised text, Braille, tactile elements, and audio descriptions, making it easier for people of all abilities to explore the park’s woods and lake and learn along the way.

At Thacher State Park, funding will support a major refresh of the Emma Treadwell Thacher Nature Center. New and updated exhibits will bring fresh educational experiences to visitors and make the space more accessible, helping more people feel welcome and inspired to explore the park.

At Caumsett State Historic Preserve, grant funding will help restore the historic Fresh Pond Trail. Building on an earlier, PTPG-supported erosion study, this project will protect fragile hillsides and guide visitors onto a repaired historic trail with stepped walkways, improved drainage, and an accessible path.

These kinds of projects are what visitors notice most, but behind every successful improvement is a local Friends group doing the hard work to make it happen.

Many of these organizations are small, volunteer-driven nonprofits that need support just to keep up with fundraising, communications, and operations. This year, the Friends of John Jay Homestead will use their grant to strengthen their fundraising and development systems as they prepare for the site’s reopening in 2028. With only two staff members, this investment will help modernize donor tools and build a stronger foundation for the future.

One of the biggest challenges Friends groups face is capacity. They know what their parks need, but often don’t have the staff time to focus on fundraising, partnerships, and long-term planning. PTPG’s professional development grants are designed to break that cycle by helping fund new permanent positions or expand part-time roles into full-time jobs. Over the last ten years, these grants have helped create more than two dozen permanent positions across the state. This year’s funding will support three new roles, including an Advancement Officer at DEC’s Five Rivers Environmental Education Center in the Capital Region. The position will help grow donor relationships, strengthen environmental education programs, and support the long-term sustainability of the center as demand continues to grow.

This year’s round received more than $3.5 million in requests–far more than the funding available. That demand shows just how much local park partners want to do for their communities.

Parks & Trails New York will continue advocating to grow this program to a $4 million annual investment so more projects can move forward and more communities are able to access necessary funds to improve public lands.

About Park & Trail Partnership Grants

The Park and Trail Partnership Grant program is supported by the New York State Environmental Protection Fund and administered by Parks & Trails New York in partnership with The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation. 

This year, we’re celebrating 10 years of Park & Trail Partnership Grants! Since 2016, more than 90 organizations have received over $10 million through PTPG to support 272 projects across the state.