In The News

April, 2021

NY state budget includes more than $3.5B in environmental funding

WBNG News 12

Our Program Director, Will Cote is quoted talking about the boost in funding in the approved state budget.

Letter: Investing in parks means investing in public health

Albany Times Union

Letter to the Editor from PTNY's Executive Director, Robin Dropkin, about the importance of investing in our outdoor public spaces for all.

Love your park by helping to clean it up

Syracuse.com

Letter to the editor from our Program Director, Will Coté promoting our annual I Love My Park Day event.

Registration now open for 'I Love My Park Day 2021'

WGRZ-Buffalo

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Registration is currently open for anyone looking to participate in New York State's 10th annual "I Love My Park Day." Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday that the two day event will be held across New York State on May 1 and May 2 at state parks, historic sites and public lands. The event aims to enhance these New York attractions, as well as raising "awareness and visibility to the state outdoor recreation assets and their needs."

March, 2021

Surge in Trail Use Good News

The Recorder

Between 2019 and 2020, visits to the Canalway Trail increased more than 30 percent, to 3.9 million, according to a new report from Parks & Trails NY and the New York State Canal Corporation. The recreation boom is great news for Montgomery County, which has seen an uptick in visitors to communities and attractions along the Mohawk River.

Area canalway trail usage increased in 2020

The Saratogian

ALBANY, N.Y. — Use along the Erie Canalway Trail and Champlain Canalway Trail increased last year, according to the 2020 Who’s on the Trail report from Parks & Trails New York and the New York State Canal Corporation.

Niawanda Park sets all-time record for Erie Canalway Trail use

The Buffalo News

Our Who's on the Trail report has yielded some record-breaking trail use stats from 2020 including this section at the western end of the Erie Canal.

Letchworth Gateway Villages launches ‘Trail Town Destination’ project

The Daily News Online

PTNY Program Director, Dylan Carey, participated as a panelist discussing the new Trail Town Destination Development project that aims to boost outdoor tourism and the region’s COVID-19 recovery by establishing a network of 10 hospitality hubs, or “Trail Towns” along the Genesee Valley Greenway and Genesee River corridor.

February, 2021

Bicyclists are good business, especially in Empire State Trail Towns

The Hudson Independent

Parks & Trails New York is re­ward­ing and cer­ti­fy­ing busi­nesses that of­fer ac­com­mo­da­tions to bi­cy­clists, from bike racks out front to healthy, lo­cally-sourced food.

Applications now being accepted for $1M grant program to improve state parks, trails, historic sites and public lands

Hudson Valley 360

ALBANY — Parks & Trails New York (PTNY) and the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP), with support from Governor Cuomo and the NYS Legislature, are pleased to announce the sixth round of competitive grants through the NYS Park and Trail Partnership Grants program, funded through the NYS Environmental Protection Fund.

January, 2021

Friends Of Rogers Begin Visitor Center Renovations And Seeks Volunteers

The Evening Sun

One of the many successful projects funded by our Park and Trail Partnership Program.

Applications open for $1M grant program to improve state parks, trails, historic sites, public lands

NEWS 10 (ABC)

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) – Parks & Trails New York (PTNY) and the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP), with support from Gov. Cuomo and the NYS Legislature, are announcing the sixth round of competitive grants through the NYS Park and Trail Partnership Grants program, funded through the NYS Environmental Protection Fund.

Gov. Cuomo's State of the State Address

Niagara Frontier Publications

The end of the article details PTNY's response to Governor Cuomo's Day 4 continuation of his 2021 State of the State address.

Escape From New York on the Empire State Trail

The Trek

The trail officially opened on New Year’s Eve and connects a network of existing trails along railways and canals. While multi-day use of the trail is best suited for bikepacking over hiking, it’s a feat of urban planning and design that will give New Yorkers across the state a new way to connect with some of the state’s most treasured public lands.

Why Your Next Trip to New York Should Include Riding the Empire State Trail

Bicycling.com

The New York State Empire Trail, The longest state multi-use trail in the nation, is now open and ready to ride.

MTA Metro-North Railroad Announces Opening of Major Segment of Empire State Trail in Putnam and Dutchess Counties

Hamlet Hub

MTA Metro-North Railroad today announced the completion of the Maybrook Trailway, a 23-mile segment of the Empire State Trail in Dutchess and Putnam Counties. Parks & Trails New York was present for the ribbon cutting and quoted in the article.

Metro-North cuts ribbon on Putnam section of Empire State Trail

Mid-Hudson News

PTNY attended and spoke at a ribbon cutting ceremony at a Putnum County section of the new Empire State Trail.

Record-Breaking Trail Finished at Auspicious Time for New York Cyclists

Courthouse News Service

Record numbers of New Yorkers used state trails in 2020. PTNY's work is generously mentioned along with news of the opening of the Empire State Trail.

Empire State Trail closes Rotterdam Junction Gap

Daily Gazette

PTNY's Project Director, Dylan Carey, is quoted in this article celebrating the closure of one of the more challenging gaps in the Erie Canalway Trail.

December, 2020

Hunters Point Parks Conservancy receives grant for Gantry Plaza beautification

Long Island City Post

The Hunters Point Park Conservancy received a grant for Gantry Plaza State Park beautification efforts and its volunteer outreach programs on behalf of the "transformational effect of the Parks and Trail Partnership Grants."