Speaking Out for Parks and Trails All Year Long

Things may be quieter in Albany in the Fall, but our advocacy on behalf of New York’s parks is a year-round effort.

PTNY Parks Program Director Laura DiBetta recently testified before the Assembly Committee on Tourism, Parks, Arts, and Sports Development at a hearing in New York City. Committee Chair Margaret Markey (D, Queens) called the hearing to estimate the impact of the State's fiscal year 2015-2016 budget on the agencies under the committee’s purview, including the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP), and assess the impact and effectiveness of New York’s tourism programs. Read the full testimony.

Each fall, PTNY also organizes a sign-on letter to the Governor in support of funding for state parks and historic sites. More than 85 groups signed on this year -- from statewide organizations to local Friends groups and Audubon chapters -- showing broad support for our park system. These types of communications are critical to ensuring that momentum for revitalization and investment in our state parks continues.