In The News

April, 2025

4 Long Island state parks to share in $2M grants

Newsday

Four Long Island parks were among those receiving a share of nearly $2 million in New York State grants distributed to 22 nonprofits.

Annual Cycle the Erie Canalway Bike Tour is All the More Special During 200th Anniversary Celebration

Long Island Press

The annual eight-day Parks & Trails Cycle the Erie Canalway bike tour from Buffalo to Albany is 400 miles and 400 years of history but this year’s ride July 12-20, 2025 is particularly special because it marks the 200^th anniversary of the opening of the Erie Canal in 1825.

Canajoharie to join Empire State Trail Town program

NEWS10

The village of Canajoharie is joining the Empire State Trail Town program. The program, dedicated to support trailside communities, will allow Canajoharie to increase opportunities for residents and to help the village welcome trail goers.

March, 2025

$61,754 grant fuels outdoor upgrades across WNY trail towns

WGRZ

The grants are expected to enhance local economies and improve pedestrian and cyclist safety through community-driven projects.

Gonzalez, Valdez back increased state funding for New York parks following Park Advocacy Day

LIC Post

State Sen. Kristen Gonzalez and Assembly Member Claire Valdez have expressed support for increases in state funding for New York State Parks following calls from activists for Park Advocacy Day in Albany last week.

October, 2024

State park economic impact similar to agriculture, new report says

The Daily Gazette

Visitation to state parks in New York generated an estimated $5.8 billion in sales, $2.5 billion in labor income and $3.7 billion in state gross domestic product, according to the report released last Friday by the nonprofit.

Report estimates NY Parks generated 5.6 billion in 2021

Times Union

Visitors to state parks generated about $5.6 billion in economic activity in 2021, according to estimates in a new study conducted by Parks & Trails New York.

Parks and Trails New York study finds $5.6 billion economic impact of park visits

WAMC

Since the pandemic, New York State Parks have been drawing a growing number of visitors. A new study by Parks & Trails New York and the Political Economic Research Institute shows investment into state parks is paying off.

Parks & Trails New York holds annual Perkins Gala

NYC 77 Events

Parks & Trails New York holds annual Perkins Gala at the trendy venue on the West Side of NYC, City Winery, with amazing views of the Hudson.

August, 2024

Saratoga Spa State Park cuts ribbon on restored mineral spring

The Coesa Spring had been dormant and is now open to the public for the first time in nearly 30 years.

June, 2024

'The great outdoors helps grow the economy'

Weekly Column by Sen. O'Mara

PTNY's work with New York State Parks is referenced in the Senator's weekly column.

May, 2024

Local state parks gearing up for annual clean up efforts

Lockport Union Sun & Journal

Multiple state parks throughout Niagara County are gearing up for some spring cleaning this weekend. The 13th annual I Love My Park Day is organized by Parks & Trails New York in partnership with the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and the Department of Environmental Conservation. More than 150 events will take place, providing opportunities for New Yorkers to clean up their favorite parks and shorelines, plant trees and gardens, restore trails and wildlife habitat, remove invasive species and work on various site improvement projects.

'I Love My Park' day is Saturday as New York state parks celebrate their centennial

Spectrum News

This weekend, state parks want to celebrate their centennial year with you. Parks and Trails New York hosts "I Love My Park" day on Saturday. They want people to get out and enjoy an area park or even volunteer to help spruce things up before the summer park season. Parks and Trails say they have seen vast growth in visitorship experienced since the COVID-19 pandemic, boasting more than 84 million visitors in 2023 alone.

Parks & Trails New York to Celebrate NYS Parks Centennial May 4 with 13th Annual I Love My Park Day

I Love NY

146 Volunteerism Events Scheduled at Parks, Historic Sites, and other Public Lands Across NYS for Centennial Celebration. In 2024, the NYS Parks System celebrates its Centennial Year. With the vast growth in visitorship experienced since the pandemic—84+ million in 2023 alone—service to our public lands is more important than ever. Volunteer organizations and site managers are making final preparations for the 13th annual I Love My Park Day to be held on May 4, 2024.

April, 2024

Volunteers sought to spruce up state parks

Livingston County News

Parks & Trails New York hope that the centennial year of the state park system encourages people to sign up for the annual "I Love My Park Day." This year, the event is May 4. "I Love My Park Day," which takes the first Saturday in May, is dedicated to revamping and sprucing up state parks, historic sites, greenway trails, and public lands. More than 100 events are scheduled across the state, including several in the four-county GLOW region of Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming counties, and adjacent counties.

Get Ready for New York’s Largest Earth Day Event: Canal Clean Sweep Starts Friday

News Channel 2 -- Utica

UTICA, N.Y. -- Community members in New York State are gearing up for the 19th annual Canal Clean Sweep. It takes place April 19-21, 2024. Organized by Parks & Trails New York and New York State Canal Corporation, the event aims to tidy up the NYS Canal System and Canalway Trail with over 190 events scheduled across the systems.

Gov. encourages New Yorkers to become park stewards

The Sun

ALBANY | Gov. Hochul has announced that New York State agencies and partners will celebrate a series of stewardship days to help enhance parks, historic sites and public lands. Service projects during four events held throughout the year will raise awareness and visibility of the state’s many outdoor recreation assets and their needs during the Love Our New York Lands Stewardship Days.

Governor Hochul Encourages New Yorkers to Participate in Love Our New York Lands Stewardship Days

I Love NY

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that New York State agencies and partners will celebrate a series of stewardship days to help enhance parks, historic sites and public lands. Service projects during four events held throughout the year will raise awareness and visibility of the state’s many outdoor recreation assets and their needs during the Love Our New York Lands Stewardship Days.

March, 2024

Haudenosaunee Confederacy Commemorates 800-Year Anniversary at EAclipse Celebration

ILoveNY.com

East Aurora, NY—As the world observes the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, a pivotal moment in Indigenous history will be celebrated and honored at the Friends of Knox Farm State Park EAclipse Celebration. The event was funded in part by a Park and Trail Partnership Grant.

A Vital Piece of Aqueduct History Rescued From Oblivion

The Hudson Independent

A consortium including Parks and Trails New York, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historical Protection successfully rescued one of three sluice gate actuators that that were scheduled to be scrapped at the New Croton Dam.