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Strengthening the People Behind New York’s Public Lands

Highlights from PTNY’s 2025 Regional Friends Gatherings

This fall, we staff hit the road to gather the people who keep our state’s parks and historic sites thriving: the Friends groups, volunteers, and site managers who champion New York’s public lands.

In partnership with the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) and the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), we hosted four Regional Friends Gatherings at Glimmerglass State Park, Letchworth State Park, Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site, and Connetquot River State Park Preserve.

Connetquot River State Park Preserve

Across the four events, nearly 130 participants came together to share success stories, work through challenges, and explore new ways to strengthen the partnerships that power our public lands.

Why does this matter? Because when Friends groups and agency partners collaborate more effectively, parks are cleaner, trails are safer, and historic sites are more welcoming. The lessons and connections forged at these gatherings help local groups take on everything from invasive species management to inclusive community programming.

Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site

Inspired by conversations at our 2024 Statewide Friends Conference, this year’s gatherings centered on the theme of resilience—how partners can face challenges together, learn from one another, and build more sustainable organizations and landscapes.

Our speakers brought fresh ideas and inspiration to each region, sparking conversations about how Friends groups can strengthen their impact and expand their reach. We were thrilled to feature an inspiring lineup who shared practical strategies for building stronger, more inclusive partnerships. 

  • Maeve McEneny (Discover Albany) and Eric Szucs (Wyoming County Chamber & Tourism) offered tips on collaborating with local tourism promotion agencies to better market events, reach younger and more diverse audiences, and recruit the next generation of board members. 
  • Stephan Hengst (Big Gay Hudson Valley) and Lori Robertson (Friends of the Walkway) highlighted their Pride in the Sky collaboration—showcasing how Friends groups can lead efforts to promote inclusivity and community connection. 
  • Janine Moon and Heidi Hill (Friends of Schuyler Mansion) shared lessons on building resilient partnerships, including their innovative joint membership model. 
  • Michael DeMaulo (OPRHP Long Island Environmental Education Team) discussed creative ways to engage younger volunteers.
  • Sandi Brewster-Walker (Montaukett Indian Nation) provided valuable insight on honoring and sharing the stories of Long Island’s five Indian Tribes.

Letchworth State Park

Each gathering included group activities designed to foster open communication between Friends and agency staff. The thoughtful feedback shared underscored just how valuable it is to have space for real conversation and collaboration. PTNY will use this input to develop a new communication best practices resource for public lands champions.

These gatherings are one more way PTNY supports the dedicated volunteers and nonprofit partners who make New York’s public lands thrive. 

Thank you to everyone who joined us this fall, including a very special thank you to our four host sites! Your creativity, commitment, and resilience continue to inspire us. We look forward to building on this momentum at the 2026 Statewide Friends Conference.