December Newsletter

Celebrate the Holidays at a State Park

Celebrate the joy of the holiday season at more than 40 events at New York state parks or historic sites. 

These properties are exceptional year-round destinations and they’re even better when they’re dressed up for the holidays. This year, start a new holiday tradition at a state park or historic site that offer family-friendly activities year-round. Events range from tours of the lavishly decorated Staatsburgh Mansion in the Hudson Valley to candlelight tours of Old Fort Niagara overlooking Lake Ontario to family-friendly tree-lighting celebrations at state parks on Long Island to making tasty holiday snacks for the black bears at Trailside Zoo in Bear Mountain State Park to First Day Hikes. Read more 

Free Winter Fun

As part of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s efforts to encourage winter tourism, New York State is waiving fees on snowmobiling and ice fishing this winter. 

The weekend of January 16-18 (Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend) will be a free snowmobiling weekend to encourage out-of-state and Canadian snowmobile enthusiasts to sled in New York State. State registration fees will be waived for properly registered and insured out-of-state snowmobiling enthusiasts wishing to explore New York’s 10,500 miles of snowmobile trails. Information on snowmobiling, including online registration for out-of-state snowmobilers is available here.

Seneca Art & Culture Center Opens at Ganondagan State Historic Site 

The new 17,300-square-foot Center tells the story of Iroquois contributions to art, culture and society for more than 2,000 years through specially-designed interactive exhibits and historical artifacts. The center will guide visitors inside the living culture, natural world and art of the Seneca located at their original homeland at Ganondagan, near Rochester. Approximately 300 artifacts will be featured in permanent and rotating exhibits that highlight five centuries of Seneca life. In the Orientation Theater, visitors will enjoy the first-ever live action and animated film of “The Iroquois Creation Story." Two classrooms, a multi-purpose auditorium, a catering kitchen, and a gift shop are within the facility. Through the Governor’s NY Parks 2020 plan, New York State committed $3.9 million to the construction of the new center. The remaining portion of the $15 million facility was made possible through private donations. Located on 500+ acres, Ganondagan State Historic Site remains as the only developed and interpreted ancient Seneca town in the United States. Learn more

Partnership Connects 150 Foster Families with the Outdoors

A joint initiative between New York State’s Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, Office of Children and Family Services and outdoor apparel maker The North Face® is getting more children outside. The partners teamed up to give 150 New York foster families an Empire Passport for unlimited entry to New York's state parks and recreational facilities for the 2015-16 season. The initiative, supported by a $5,000 grant from The North Face's Explore Fund Program, enabled the families to enjoy New York's 180 state parks and 55 forest preserves free of charge. This was the third year of the partnership dedicated to helping foster families enjoy the outdoors. Read more 

Volunteer Spotlight: Bloomberg LP Volunteers 

Hundreds of volunteers from Bloomberg LP recently completed significant work at two State Parks in New York City.  At Riverbank State Park in Manhattan, over 400 college intern volunteers and 200 corporate volunteers painted 3,000 linear feet of sea rail and planted 400 perennials in the park’s courtyards.  Together, they donated 6,000 hours of labor and $40,000 in materials and supplies.  In October, 100 corporate volunteers joined community members at Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve in Staten Island to install 800 linear feet of deer fencing; paint the long barn and farm house and remove 15 yards of invasive species.  Together, they donated over 500 hours of labor and about $5,000 in supplies. 

Governor Cuomo Visits Site of $7.3 Million Minnewaska State Park Preserve Project

Governor Cuomo recently visited Minnewaska State Park Preserve to announce a $7.3 million plan to modernize the park gateway and better accommodate the growing number of visitors to the stunning destination on Ulster County’s Shawangunk Mountain Ridge. The project – featuring a new 6,000-square-foot visitor center – is supported by a pledge of $3 million in private philanthropy from the Open Space Institute. 

The new visitor center will help educate visitors on the park’s natural and recreational features, and will include exhibit space, classrooms for environmental education programs, public bathrooms and park offices. In addition, a new 50-person capacity warming hut/pavilion will offer the four-season park’s visitors a place to get out of the elements, enjoy park programs or reserve for special events. The project will also include much-needed parking and traffic-flow improvements. The Governor visited Minnewaska while on a “Ride the Catskills” Motorcycle Tour to promote tourism in the region. Read more

Behind the Scenery:
Eric Hoppe, Park Manager, Walkway Over the Hudson

How long have you been with the agency?  Since May of 2007.

What does someone in your position do? Regardless of the varied positions and responsibilities I have held since joining Parks, I keep the agency’s mission statement as my primary goal: to provide a safe and enjoyable recreational and interpretive opportunities for all New York State residents and visitors; and to be the responsible stewards of our valuable natural, historic, and cultural resources.

What’s the coolest thing you’ve ever seen? That’s a tough one to answer.  I have the satisfaction of telling people I work where they come to vacation. How cool is that? To narrow it down to one thing would be impossible. There are so many things to see and do in our state park system.

What’s the coolest thing you’ve ever done? The most enjoyable experience so far was the Starry Starry Night Friends Gala held on the bridge featuring sparkling lights and tents, and attended by more than 400 guests to benefit programs at the Walkway.

Is there a destination you’d recommend to someone? All of our historic sites and parks in the Region are unique and awe inspiring. Sites and parks from founders of our country to philanthropists and artists we have it all, each one is worthy of a visit! But given the option to choose one, it would have to be the Walkway over the Hudson….for obvious reasons.

What inspired you to work in the park system? I was inspired originally because my background in historic restoration and a love of the outdoors. In conjunction with that I would say now it’s the people. Their reaction the first time or many times visiting the Walkway is an inspiration.