NYS Friends Groups Regional Conferences 2022

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Parks & Trails New York and the New York Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation will be hosting five in-person regional conferences for Friends groups this Fall. These conferences provide opportunities for learning, networking and information-sharing among Friends groups and agency leadership. The last regional meetings were held in 2016 and more than 200 Friends and staff of New York State parks and historic sites were in attendance. This included representatives from approximately 60 Friends groups, covering every region in the state.

We hope to see you at a regional gathering near you this Fall! If you can't make it to the closest event, please feel to join us in another region:

  • September 15: Central, Finger Lakes, and Thousand Islands @ Ganondagan State Historic Site, Victor, NY (outside Rochester)
  • September 22: Allegany, Genesee, and Niagara @ Knox Farm State Historic Site, East Aurora, NY (outside Buffalo)
  • September 29: Capital Region @ Thacher State Park, Voorheesville, NY (outside Albany)
  • November 3: Long Island & NYC @ Planting Fields Arboretum, Oyster Bay, NY
  • November 10: Taconic & Palisades @ Taconic Regional HQ, Staatsburg, NY

Tentative Agenda

  • 9.30AM Registration
  • 10.00AM Welcome & Introductions
  • 10.15AM Remarks from State Parks Leadership:
    • Andy Fyfe, Assistant Deputy Director
    • Message from Erik Kulleseid, Commissioner
  • 10.30AM Parks & Trails New York – A Review: Past, Present, Future Initiatives
    • Updates from the Friends Leadership Council
  • 11.15AM Coffee Break
  • 11.30AM Deep Dive: Park and Trail Partnership Grants Expansion and the State Parks Centennial Celebration
  • 12.15PM Lunch
    • Themed conversation tables
    • Group photo
  • 1.30PM Special Session: Open Spaces for All, expanding access for all visitors and supporting the future of our parks and sites
  • 2.30PM Refreshments Break
  • 2.45PM Panel Discussion with OPRHP Leadership, Regional Directors, Regional Park Commission Chairs
  • 3.30PM Closing Remarks
  • 4.00PM Optional Site Tour provided by our host site
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