Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

Fall Festival at John Boyd Thacher State Park
Friends & Support
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How Can You Support State Parks and Historic Sites?

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!

Join a Friends Group

One of the best ways to get involved at our parks and historic sites is to join a Friends Group. More than seventy 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 Friends Group link from these state park or historic site pages or contact the park or site for more information on how to get involved.

Donate

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 TrustLeaving New York State Parks 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.

Visit Us and Spread the Word

Next time you visit one of our parks or historic sites, bring a friend or consider visiting one you’ve never been to. Our incredible staff offer events and programming year-round, and we’d love to have you attend! Have a look at our events calendar to find a location near you today. Attend our annual I Love My Park Day on the first Saturday in May at a park or historic site in your community! We appreciate each and every one of you who enter these public properties, and each visit supports our mission.

Bring Your Skills to Jobs Around the State

Discover rewarding career opportunities in some of the most beautiful, scenic, and historic places New York State has to offer. Whether you’re looking for permanent or seasonal employment, we’ve got a spot for you on our team! Learn more about open positions on our Employment page.

More Support for Parks

Want to support your local park? Call or visit in person and ask them how you can volunteer! There are also many organizations that champion 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 NYLeaving New York State Parks (PTNY) is a statewide organization committed to protecting our parks and trails and helping communities create new parks and trails. The Open Space InstituteLeaving New York State Parks works to protect and enhance public lands and your state parks for future generations.

The Palisades Park ConservancyLeaving New York State Parks 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 ConferenceLeaving New York State Parks 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 StateLeaving New York State Parks is dedicated to the protection of New York's diverse and rich heritage of historic buildings, districts, and landscapes.

America's State ParksLeaving New York 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.