Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

June 20, 2013

Randy Simons
Dan Keefe
518-486-1868

Tourism Official Named Director of New York State Parks Finger Lakes Region

New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Commissioner Rose Harvey today announced that Fred Bonn, director of the Ithaca/Tompkins County Convention and Visitors Bureau, has been named Director of the Finger Lakes State Park Region. He will begin in late July.

"With their magnificent waterfalls, gorges and lakefronts, state parks in the Finger Lakes Region are significant tourism destinations and treasured community assets," Harvey said. "Fred understands how much our parks factor into the economy and quality of life in the region, and he will provide strong leadership for the Finger Lakes as well as the entire state park system."

For the past nine years, Bonn has been the Director of the Ithaca/Tompkins County Convention and Visitors Bureau, and has served in leadership roles on a number of state and regional tourism associations. He previously worked for the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce.

In his tourism promotion role, along with being an avid outdoor recreationist, Fred has spent significant time promoting and enjoying state parks in the Finger Lakes Region. He worked as a State Parks lifeguard in the region while attending high school and college.

Bonn replaces Tim Joseph, who retired as Finger Lakes Regional Director in April.

The Finger Lakes Region is home to more than 23 state parks, including Watkins Glen State Park, Taughannock Falls State Park, and Fair Haven Beach State Park as well as two historic sites, the Sonnenberg Gardens and Mansion State Historic Park and Ganondagan State Historic Site, New York's only historic site dedicated to Native American history.