A is for Advocacy

With a new administration in Albany, we have a singular opportunity to make enormous progress in protecting and expanding New York’s parks, trails and green spaces.

As the leading statewide park and trail advocacy organization, Parks & Trails New York has made some notable progress. We successfully spearheaded an unprecedented revitalization of our iconic park system, with a billion dollars of investment in exciting capital projects such as vibrant new visitor centers and solar-powered energy system.

In addition, our persistent advocacy to close the gaps in the Erie Canalway Trail has been a key driver in the development of the Empire State Trail, the longest multi-use trail in the nation.

But, as much as has been accomplished, there is much more to be done. Advocating for our parks and trails is a never-ending effort and, in fact, why Parks & Trails New York exists. The organization was founded in 1985 primarily to advocate for our then beleaguered state park system but its purview quickly expanded to include trails, or linear parks as we like to think of them.

Priorities for 2022

To ensure our public green spaces are there for all New Yorkers, we’ve determined our advocacy priorities for 2022—the issues we will focus on over the coming months and through the legislative season.

First and foremost, we’re speaking loud and clear in Albany for sufficient funding for programming, interpretation, and maintenance—in other words operating funding—for our magnificent park system to meet the needs of the 78 million annual park visitors and to protect the $1 billion taxpayer investment in parks made over the last decade.

We’re also going to be fighting hard for more funding to expand and improve our multi-use trail network so that everyone has access to close-to-home trails for walking, biking, and enjoying fresh air.

Here’s our top priority list of what we’ll be fighting for in Albany:

Increase staffing level at State Parks to 2,300 full time workers

Since the Great Recession of 2008, State Parks has been operating at drastically reduced staffing levels, despite substantial increases in visitation and a significant expansion of park facilities and infrastructure.

Invest $330 million in state park capital funding next year and annually over the next decade

Since 2010, more than $1 billion in capital funding has been dedicated for upgrades to the state park system and the state needs to keep investing in the system to keep parks safe, welcoming and accessible.

Increase the 2022 Environmental Bond Act by $1 billion to a total of $4 billion

The Environmental Bond Act, approved by the legislature at $3 billion as part of last year’s budget, represents an historic investment in protecting and preserving our natural environment, while ensuring that New York can withstand the impending threats of climate change.

Include $50 million for Trail Connections and Enhancements in the Environmental Bond Act

Dedicating $50 million from the Environmental Bond Act for multi-use trails will support improvements to the Empire State Trail and implementation of the 2021 New York State Greenway Trails Plan. Funding will go towards constructing new trails, providing significant repairs and enhancements to existing trails, and acquiring land needed to complete trail networks.

Increase the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) from $300 million to $500 million

Over the last three decades, the EPF has become essential to New York, supporting 350,000 jobs and generating $40 billion per year in economic activity. EPF programs conserve land and water, create new parks and trails, support climate adaptation and mitigation projects, provide resources to environmental justice organizations.

Increase funding for Park and Trail Partnership Grants from $1 million to $2 million

Park and Trail Partnership Grants, funded through the Environmental Protection Fund, support a wide array of private partner efforts, from raising funds for capital projects and performing maintenance tasks, to providing innovative educational programming and hosting special events. Increasing funding for these grants will expand the program’s impact by further advancing public-private partnership efforts and address barriers to diversity, equity and inclusion.