New York State parks and historic sites rely on countless volunteers and patron generosity to support a wide range of operational and programmatic activities. From helping out at our nature centers to organizing trail clean up events we depend on our friends to help us keep our parks and sites open and accessible to everyone!
One of the best ways to get involved at our parks and historic sites is to join a Friends Group. More than eighty of our parks and sites have active and organized Friends Groups that offer many opportunities to be as involved as you can be. Follow the Friend's Group link from these state park or historic site pages or contact the park or site for more information on how to get involved.
Another great way to show your support is to make a donation to your favorite park or historic site. You can donate online from any park or historic site page or you can visit the Natural Heritage Trust for more information on how to give. No donation is too small and each and every gift is used to benefit our parks and sites.
There are many organizations that advocate for parks and historic sites both statewide and in your local communities. Here are a few organizations that you can turn to for more ideas on supporting parks and historic sites in your community.
Parks and Trails NY (PTNY) is a statewide organization committed to protecting our parks and trails and helping communities create new parks and trails. The Alliance for New York State Parks is an initiative of the Open Space Institute and works to protect and enhance your state parks for future generations.
The Palisades Park Conservancy raises funds to preserve and improve preservation of the natural, historical, and cultural resources of the parks in the Palisades Interstate park system. The NY/NJ Trail Conference partners with parks and recruits volunteers to create, protect, and promote more than 1,700 miles of public trails in the NY metropolitan area.
The Preservation League of New York State is dedicated to the protection of New York's diverse and rich heritage of historic buildings, districts, and landscapes.
America's State Parks works to capture the collective strength and importance of the great park systems developed in the 50 states and is committed to giving our country's state parks systems a unified voice.