Press Releases
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March, 2025
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Parks & Trails New York Applauds Proposed Funding by State Legislature
Parks & Trails New York applauds the state legislature for recognizing the vital role public lands play in communities across New York. By proposing significant funding increases to match record public demand, the legislature is protecting our state’s treasured open spaces during a time when public lands across the nation are under threat.
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February, 2025
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PTNY Supports Nomination of Amanda Lefton as DEC Commissioner
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Nearly 100 Organizations Join Together for Park Advocacy Day
130+ New Yorkers from 90+ organizations across the state will meet in Albany on February 25, urging legislators to increase funding for critical public lands programs. Organized by Parks & Trails New York (PTNY) and Open Space Institute (OSI), Park Advocacy Day connects advocates from across New York with state lawmakers to give public lands a voice.
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January, 2025
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Parks & Trails New York Commends Governor Hochul's FY2026 Proposed Budget Increases
The Governor’s budget puts forward increases to critical programs that support visitation and activation of New York’s public lands, including increasing the Park & Trail Partnership Grant program by $500,000 to $2.5 million, and increasing the Connect Kids program by $500,000 to $3.5 million. Both of these programs ensure that New York’s rich, diverse parks, trails and open spaces are able to welcome and captivate a growing number of visitors each year.
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November, 2024
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45.2 new miles of greenway trail constructed across New York
A new report conducted by Parks & Trails New York (PTNY) and the New York Office of State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) confirms that statewide greenway trail expansion continues to lead the nation, with 45.2 new miles of trail completed between January 2023 and June 2024.
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October, 2024
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State Parks Economic Impact Rivals Agriculture
A new economic impact report conducted by Parks & Trails New York (PTNY), The Political Economy Research Institute (PERI), and The Natural Heritage Trust finds that the annual GDP of New York State Parks and Historic Sites amounted to $3.7 billion in 2021. This economic impact rivals that of the state’s agricultural sector, which generated $3.3 billion during the same year (U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis).
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May, 2024
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Parks & Trails New York to Celebrate NYS Parks Centennial with 13th Annual I Love My Park Day May 4, 2024
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.
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April, 2024
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New York’s Largest Earth Day Celebration Kicks Off Friday, April 19 with Canal Clean Sweep
Community organizations, volunteer groups, businesses, and students across New York State are making final preparations for the 19th annual Canal Clean Sweep, April 19-21, 2024. Canal Clean Sweep, organized by Parks & Trails New York and New York State Canal Corporation, is an annual clean-up event held across the NYS Canal System and Canalway Trail. More than 190 Clean Sweep events are scheduled across the 400-mile-long Canalway Trail system and the 524-mile-long Canal system, providing opportunities for thousands of residents to give back to their local communities and to show pride in one of New York’s most iconic cultural and recreational resources.
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Canalway Trail System now receives 4 million visits per year
ALBANY, NY – The Erie Canalway and the Champlain Canalway Trails continue to receive high levels of use year after year, according to the newly released Who’s on the Trail 2023: Canalway Trail report from Parks & Trails New York (PTNY) and the New York State Canal Corporation (NYSCC). The report estimates that the Canalway Trail System receives roughly 3.95 million visits per year, based on data from electronic counters installed at 33 locations over the past five years.
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March, 2024
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Four New Communities to Work Towards Coveted 'Trail Town' Status
The City of Little Falls, City of Amsterdam, Village of Schuylerville and Town of Fort Edward to join the innovative Empire State Trail-based economic development program.
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