New Yorkers Shake Off the Cold for First Day Hikes
On January 1, frigid temperatures encased the northeast U.S. impacting the 7th Annual First Day Hikes program, but more than 2,300 intrepid participants braved the extreme conditions to kick-off 2018 in the outdoors. This year the state Department of Environmental Conservation joined with New York State Parks in hosting the hikes, expanding the variety of options available across the Empire State.
Because of the below-normal temperatures, some of the 75 originally-planned First Day Hikes were cancelled, postponed or shortened but those who hiked were glad they opted to celebrate outside among New York’s scenic winter beauty. From smaller groups to the hundreds who showed up at several larger facilities, hikers of all ages enjoyed camaraderie and expertise of staff and volunteers at more than 55 state parks, historic sites, wildlife areas, Forest Preserve trails and environmental education centers.
Hikes are great ways to stay healthy, connect with people, discover a new park or embrace an old favorite. If you missed joining in this year’s First Day Hike, be sure to mark your calendar and save the date in 2019. But in the meantime, visit parks.ny.gov for guided walks and hikes being held weekends (and some weekdays) at locations across the state this winter.
 Winter Fun
From cross-country skiing to ice skating to
snowmobiling, there’s lots to do in winter in New York.
Find out which State Parks our staff recommend for snowshoeing.
Enjoy watching wildlife? Learn about New York’s winter
bird population, discover how to decipher
winter animal tracks, or take part in one of our popular seal
walks at Jones Beach State Park.
New York State boasts more than 10,000 miles of
groomed snowmobile trails. Join a snowmobile
club and discover the thrill of snowmobiling.
Visit our calendar
of events for more ideas about fun things to do in New York State Parks. Read
more
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 Free Snowmobile Weekend
Governor Cuomo is welcoming visitors to New
York’s snowmobile trails. The state’s annual will be held in
communities across New York on Friday, February 2, through Monday, February 5,
for all out-of-state and Canadian snowmobilers. Registration fees will be
waived for properly registered and insured out-of-state snowmobiling
enthusiasts wishing to explore New York’s 10,400 miles of trails.
As part of the state’s support for snowmobile, the Governor also
announced more than $5 million for snowmobile trail maintenance and grooming
across New York State. Read
more
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 New York to Create New State Park in Brooklyn
Governor Cuomo announced in his annual State of the State address that New York State, in partnership with the National Park Service and the City of New York, are working to establish a new 407-acre state park on Jamaica Bay in Brooklyn, providing crucial new open space access to one of the most park-poor areas of the state. The new state park complements the state's efforts to create more pocket parks, community gardens, playgrounds and recreation centers within a ten-minute walk for every Central Brooklyn resident.
The park will open 3.5 miles of waterfront, miles of paths and trails, and a coastal highland planted with native species to create new opportunities for biking, hiking, fishing, kayaking, and waterfront environmental education. Read more
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 Sweet Deal
If you haven’t already bought your Empire Pass
online at the $65 price, act now! The new 2018 Empire Pass can be shared
among a household and is the key to all-season enjoyment at state parks,
forests, beaches, trails, nature centers and more. The pre-season sale
price is good through March 31, 2018. Learn more
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 Roberto Clemente
State Park Pitches In for Puerto Rico
In
response to the widespread damage and devastation from Hurricane Maria,
Governor Cuomo launched the Empire State Relief and Recovery Effort
for Puerto Rico to provide needed services, goods and funds to help the people
of Puerto Rico recover and rebuild, and provides opportunities for New Yorkers
to contribute to the relief efforts. Roberto Clemente State Park in the
Bronx was designated a drop-off location where citizens could donate much-needed
goods for shipment to Puerto Rico. Nearly 200 full pallets of donations –
including items such as batteries, flashlights, diapers,
cases of water
-- were accepted, sorted, stacked, wrapped, and loaded onto trucks by park
staff and volunteers. Learn
more
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 Governor's Budget Proposal Continues State Park
Revitalization
Governor Cuomo's 2018-19 Executive Budget holds great news for State
Parks, by continuing his bold plan to invest $900 million in State Parks by
2020. The Governor's NY Parks 2020 plan is funding capital improvement projects
that are providing visitors with safe, fun and modern facilities at our state
parks and historic sites. Learn more
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 Behind the Scenery
with Susan Carver, Environmental Educator
How long
have you been with the agency? Three years.
What does
someone in your position do? My job is
about helping New Yorkers know more about the animals and plants in our state
parks. I do this by managing the New York
State Parks blog; administering the Connect
Kids Field Trip Grant program which has helped thousands of public school
children visit state lands; visiting state parks with nature centers and helping
staff with their projects; assisting state historic sites on environmental
interpretation projects; and working with other state agencies on projects that
get New Yorkers outdoors.
What’s the
coolest thing you’ve ever seen or done while working for State? Listening to eight fourth graders spontaneously
sing the national anthem to Sammi, the bald eagle at the Bear Mountain State
Park zoo.
Is there a
destination you’d recommend to someone? Hard to
pick because we have so many great state parks and historic sites – whereever
you go you can find beauty and wonder.
What
inspired you to work in the park system? When I was
a child, my family and I would spend summer afternoons in the state park in my
Massachusetts hometown. Spending time in
this special place started my lifelong love of state parks. I feel especially lucky working for New York
State Parks which manages so many amazing places.
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