 Registration is Open!
More than 120 state parks and historic sites are
participating in the seventh annual Parks & Trails NY and New York State
Parks I Love My Park Day on Saturday, May 5. Join your friends, family and
neighbors and sign up today to volunteer at your favorite state park or site.
From beach clean-ups to trail restoration and tree and flower plantings,
hundreds of events are planned to spruce up our parks and get them ready for
the summer season. Make a difference at the parks you love, and register today to
volunteer!
 Record-Breaking 71 Million Visit State Parks in
2017
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo recently announced New York's system of
state parks, historic sites, campgrounds, and trails welcomed 71.5 million
estimated visitors in 2017. This milestone marks seven years of steady visitor
growth and represents an overall increase of 23 percent, or 13.6 million
visitors since 2011.
Despite inclement weather over the busiest summer months, New York
State Parks saw an increase from 70.6 million in 2016 to 71.5 million in 2017. A
variety of factors likely contributed to the increase, including trail improvements,
new and improved playgrounds,
thousands of acres of new
parkland, the opening of Hallock
State Park on Long Island, the transformation at Buffalo
Harbor State Park, and the introduction of the new family sharing Empire
Pass. Read
more.
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 Help for our Friends
The New York Park and Trail Partnership Program is providing
$450,000 in state grants to 21 organizations dedicated to the stewardship and
promotion of New York State parks, historic sites and public lands. These
dedicated “Friends” groups raise private funds for capital projects, perform
maintenance tasks, provide educational programming, and promote public use
through hosting special events, and the grants will help them make an even stronger contribution to the stewardship of New York's great outdoor spaces.
The state grants will be matched by nearly $200,000 in private
and local funding.
The grants funded through the Environmental Protection Fund are
administered by the State Parks and Parks & Trails New York, a statewide
non-profit group. Learn more.
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 On
Sale Now: The Great Outdoors
The
2018 annual Empire Pass Card is available online and in-person for the discounted price of
$65 through March 31, 2018. The
annual pass provides unlimited day-use entry to more than 250 individual state
parks, historic sites, recreational trails, boat launches and more. The
wallet-sized plastic card can also be shared among family members including
parents, grandparents, caregivers and more. The Empire Pass Card regular price
is $80. Learn more
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 Rediscovering the scenic Niagara Gorge
A visit to the scenic Niagara River Gorge and Rim
is crucial to fully experiencing the magic of Niagara Falls. That’s why on-the-ground ecological
restoration work to "Restore the Gorge" is underway. The Western New
York Land Conservancy is undertaking a two-year mission to control invasive
species and plant native trees, shrubs, grasses and flowers in the Niagara
Gorge, from the Niagara Gorge Discovery Center in Niagara Falls State Park
north to Devil's Hole State Park. As
one of the most biologically diverse places on the Great Lakes, the Niagara
Gorge is home to many rare plants, and is important habitat for birds and
freshwater fish. The $2.1 million project is supported by a variety of
State funds. Learn more
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 Excelsior Conservation Corps Now
Accepting Applications
The
Student Conservation Association is now accepting applications for the New York
State Excelsior Conservation Corps (ECC). Young adults, ages 18-25 who live in or
attended school in New York and veterans, ages 18-28 (no NY affiliation needed)
can apply for positions working in some of the most beautiful and treasured
sites across New York State. The 6-month service positions begin June 25, 2018,
and applications will be accepted right up until the start of the program.
ECC
members live and work in state parks, historic sites and public lands. Housing
and meals are provided, as well as no-cost health insurance and a $180/week
stipend. Members also receive a post-service Segal Education Award of $2,907.50
for 6-month service. Applications are available online at www.ny.gov/ECC.
For any additional questions about the program, please contact ECCrecruiting@thesca.org.
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 Behind the Scenery
with Stefanie Hale, Camping Coordinator
How
long have you been with the agency? This is my
eleventh year with Parks.
What
does someone in your position do? As the Camping
Coordinator, I’m the first point of contact for anything related to our
expansive camping system so I work closely with park staff and the public. As a
camper myself, it allows me to connect and relate to any comments or concerns
that our patrons have.
What’s
the coolest thing you’ve ever seen or done? During
a site visit to the Taconic Region campgrounds, we enjoyed a guided tour of the
nearby Walkway Over the Hudson. What a view!
Is
there a destination in the park/region you’d recommend to someone? I’d recommend the Finger Lakes Region. Taughannock Falls
is one of my absolute favorites, and hiking the gorge trail at Watkins Glen is
amazing.
What
inspired you to work in the park system? My love
for the outdoors! I started here as a seasonal and it’s been a natural fit ever
since. I feel very lucky.
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 State Parks Crews Aid in Storm
Recovery Efforts
Two
dozen specially trained sawyers from 12 different state parks across New York
jumped in to lend a hand to New York City after it was pummeled by a pair of
Nor’easters in early March. The specially trained sawyers spent two days helping clear trees, hanging limbs
and woody debris caused by the March 2 and 7 storms from streets and
neighborhoods in Queens and Staten Island. State Park sawyers complete a
multi-level internationally recognized logger course, known as “The Game of
Logging” – a course developed in Sweden to teach students safety and precision
in using chainsaws for logging and storm recovery work. The State Park crews were deployed through the State Emergency
Operations Center, which was activated
by Governor Cuomo in advance of the storm. The State Emergency Operations
Center coordinates preparations and response among state agencies and local
governments during major storms and emergencies. Learn more about the crews.
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 Hudson Valley Majesty on Display
Governor Cuomo recently announced major milestones in the Hudson River SkyWalk
project, a scenic pedestrian trail linking Olana State Historic
Site with Thomas Cole National Historic
Site across the Hudson River. The roughly one-mile long sidewalk of the Rip
Van Winkle Bridge has been completely rebuilt by the New York State Bridge
Authority with the addition of three scenic viewpoints, each 50 feet long by 10
feet wide. These scenic viewpoints will provide the public with unparalleled
views of the Hudson River and Catskill Mountains. Later this year, the State Department of
Transportation will create a pedestrian-friendly roundabout that will provide
tourists a direct connection from the east end of the Rip Van Winkle Bridge to Olana. Learn more
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