State Parks Are Free On Black Friday! #OptOutside
Governor Cuomo is
encouraging all to enjoy New York state parks for free on Black Friday,
November 24. Visitors can avoid busy shopping centers, long check-out lines and
traffic congestion and instead enjoy the more than 335,000 spacious acres of
pristine landscape awaiting a family adventure. There will be no parking fee at
any State Park on Black Friday.
To celebrate the
holidays and the outdoors State Parks offers numerous special events and
programs on Black Friday and over the Thanksgiving weekend. For a full list of
state park events on Black Friday and over the holiday weekend
please visit www.parks.ny.gov and select "Thanksgiving Weekend" on the homepage.
Heading to a State Park
on Black Friday celebrates the #OptOutside movement to spend more time in the
great outdoors as an alternative to a hectic retail experience. Read More
 Niagara Falls Cave of
the Winds Experience Gets Even Better
Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul recently opened a new
Niagara Falls Cave of the Winds attraction that highlights Niagara Falls’
significance as the first state park in the nation and site of the first
large-scale hydroelectric generating plant.
Part of the revitalization of Niagara Falls State Park, the
revamped pavilion features three new experiences. "Drawn to the Edge"
presents interactive and virtual exhibits that tell the story of why visitors
and innovators came to Niagara Falls and showcases the way beauty and power
co-exist. In the "World Changed Here" space, a theatrical film and
object theater introduces viewers to famed visionaries such as landscape
architect Fredrick Law Olmsted and inventor Nikola Tesla and how their work
impacted the world.
Finally, visitors will "Prepare for Power" when
they receive a pair of souvenir sandals before descending 175 feet into the
Niagara Gorge to the decks of the Cave of the Winds and the Hurricane Deck.
When the decks close for the season, this space will offer a video wall where
visitors can see the Falls throughout all the seasons.
The facility will also help eliminate long waits through the
implementation of timed ticketing. Read
more
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 Holiday Lights Return
to Jones Beach
A Long Island holiday tradition has returned with the Magic of
Lights at Jones Beach State Park. Once again, Jones Beach will shine bright as
guests weave along the spectacular 2.5-mile drive-through holiday lights
display. The display runs through Sunday, December 31. A complete schedule and
ticket information available at www.magicoflights.com.
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 Share the fun! Annual
Empire Pass On Sale Through March
The
2018 annual Empire Pass Card is available online for the discounted price of
$65 through March 31, 2018. The wallet-sized plastic card providing
unlimited vehicle entry to state parks can be shared among family members
including parents, grandparents, caregivers and more. The annual park pass is a
cost-effective way to enjoy the more than 250 individual state parks, historic
sites, recreational trails, boat launches and more. Gift orders should be placed by
Friday December 8 to ensure delivery in time for the holidays. After the sale,
the Empire Pass Card will be available for its regular price of $80. Read more
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 New York State Parks
Support Local Jobs and Businesses
New York State Parks and Historic Sites are known as great
places to visit. But a new independent study found they’re also great for the
economy. The study by the Political
Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts found that the
New York State Park System and its visitors generated spending of about $5
billion, which supported nearly 54,000 jobs within the state and over $2.8
billion in additional state GDP. In short, each dollar of state funding
supported 9 dollars of sales throughout New York State. Read
more
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 Buffalo Harbor State Park Transformation is Complete
Governor Cuomo recently declared the transformation
of Buffalo’s Outer Harbor into New York State’s newest state park is now
complete. New York State purchased the once neglected property in 2013 and
immediately invested $15 million to remediate a brownfield and transform 190
acres into a vibrant state park. Buffalo Harbor State Park features paved
walking and bike paths, a new great-lawn with beautiful vistas of Lake Erie and
the Harbor, open air picnic pavilions, a nautically themed playground,
sled-riding hill, stage area for live music and movies in the park, fishing
platforms and improved boating facilities. Today, more than 240,000 people
visit the park annually. Read
more
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 Behind the Scenery with Tim O’Keefe
Park
Supervisor 2, Allegany State Park/Red House Area
How long have you been with the
agency?
I began my career in Parks in May of 2004.
What does someone in your position do? I oversee a four-season camping operation that offers everything from cabin/cottage rentals, to hiking, mountain biking, and swimming in the summer, to skiing, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing in the winter months. My role is one of a choreographer, as well as a supervisor.
What’s the coolest thing you’ve ever
seen or done? Occasionally I get to lead a group
of people on a guided hike through the woods. It’s a nice diversion from my
daily responsibilities, and and a great way to interact with the Park’s
patrons.
Is there a destination in the
park/region you’d recommend to someone? Snowshoeing on Beehunter hiking
trail after a fresh snowfall. It’s both peaceful and challenging at the same
time.
What inspired you to work in the
park system? My siblings brought me camping in
Allegany back in the late 70’s. It planted a seed inside of me that continues
to grow.
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 Save the Date:
First Day Hikes on January 1
Kick off the New Year in the outdoors! First Day Hikes will be held January 1, 2018 at select NY
state parks, historic sites, state forests and nature centers.
Find a hike near you on the events calendar at www.parks.ny.gov. More being added
each week!
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