2020 Advocacy Agenda

PTNY_SUB_MAIN8.jpg

Parks & Trails New York (PTNY) provides a voice for park and trail users and supporters with decision makers and the environmental community, both in Albany and in communities around the state. The policies and programs supported by PTNY reflect the essential role of parks, trails and greenways in New York’s economic growth, the health of its residents, and the long-term resiliency and sustainability of its communities.

Outdoor recreation in New York generates $33.8 billion in consumer spending, 313,000 direct jobs, and $41.8 billion in wages and salaries.1 Active outdoor recreation generates annual state and local tax revenues in New York of $3.6 billion.

In the wake of more frequent and severe weather events, parks, trails and greenways also make our state more resilient, providing natural protective systems while keeping the lands they occupy in productive, attractive use. Walkways and bicycling infrastructure provide opportunities for active transportation alternatives for people to safely get to work, school and shops especially when storms interrupt motorized transport.

In 2020, PTNY will work to promote policies and programs that protect, promote and enhance New York’s parks, trails and greenways, and to ensure that these natural, recreational and cultural treasures are an integral part of the state’s economic, transportation, health, and environmental strategies.

Download a booklet version to view our full priorities.

Join us on March 2, 2020 for Parks Advocacy Day and March 16, 2020 for Trails Advocacy Day.

1Outdoor Industry Foundation, 2018. The Active Outdoor Recreation Economy.

Here's what we fight for:

  • We are a strong advocate for adequate capital and operations funding for our magnificent system of state parks and historic sites.
  • We are committed to establishing state policies that safeguard park lands from non-park use.
  • We are dedicated to securing state and federal transportation funding that supports communities' efforts to build trails, bike lanes, and sidewalks that support active transportation.
  • Our Close the Gaps campaign seeks to complete the entire 360-mile Erie Canalway Trail which, when finished, will be the longest trail of its kind in the nation.

Strength in numbers

SaveOurStateParks.jpg

By partnering with other groups that share our passion for New York's great outdoor spaces such as the Friends of New York's Environment and New Yorkers for Active Transportation (NY4AT), a coalition we helped found and lead, we more effectively fight for the issues that you care about - protecting New York's natural areas, enhancing the existing network of bike paths and multi-use trails, offering strong support for the Environmental Protection Fund, and securing equitable funding for infrastructure that supports safe walking and bicycling.

Read More