Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

September 16, 2015

Randy Simons | Dan Keefe
(518) 486-1868 | news@parks.ny.gov

State Parks Announces $500,000 Available to Help Grassroots Groups Improve State Parks, Trails and Historic Sites

The state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks) today announced that $500,000 in grants are now available to help organizations to improve State parks, trails and historic sites. The grants are available to Friends Groups of State parks and the program will be administered by State Parks and Parks & Trails New York.

"Across New York State, our Friends Groups and volunteers regularly roll up their sleeves and make our park system a success," State Parks Commissioner Rose Harvey said. "I applaud Governor Cuomo for getting behind this innovative strategy to equip these committed groups with the tools to do even more, and I thank Parks & Trails New York for its work to make it happen."

"The state's landmark investment in grassroots Friends Groups will reap large benefits, enabling groups to leverage more private and federal funding, marshal more volunteer power, and augment the state's historic investment in parks," PTNY Executive Director Robin Dropkin said. "PTNY looks forward to working with State Parks and Friends Groups on this transformative opportunity."

The program is designed to:

• enhance the preservation, stewardship, interpretation, maintenance and promotion of New York State parks, trails and state historic sites;
• increase the sustainability, effectiveness, productivity, volunteerism and fundraising capabilities of not-for-profit organizations that promote, maintain and support New York State parks, trails and state historic sites; and
• promote the tourism and economic development benefits of outdoor recreation through the growth and expansion of a connected statewide network of parks, trails and greenways.

Applications are due December 4, 2015. Grant awards are expected to be announced in March 2016. The Park and Trail Partnership Program is open to recognized Friends organizations whose primary mission is the preservation, stewardship, interpretation, maintenance and promotion of a specific New York State park, trail or historic site (or multiple such sites) under the jurisdiction of State Parks. More information about the grant program and its timeline are available at http://ptny.org/our-work/support/park-trail-partnership-program.

Governor Cuomo proposed the grant program as part of his 2015 Opportunity Agenda. Funding is provided by the Environmental Protection Fund. The 2015-16 state budget includes $177 million for the EPF, an increase of 32 percent since Governor Cuomo took office.

In addition, Governor Cuomo launched 'I Love My Park' Day, an annual volunteer day on the first Saturday of each May to improve and enhance New York's parks and historic sites. For the fourth annual event last spring, 6,500 volunteers took part in over 200 cleanup, improvement and beautification projects at 95 state parks and historic sites, contributing 16,000 hours of volunteer service.

These grassroots efforts complement Governor Cuomo's commitment to revitalizing and transforming the State park system through his NY Parks 2020 plan. Under Governor Cuomo's leadership, New York State is making a historic commitment to improving and expanding access to outdoor recreation. The Governor's NY Parks 2020 program is a multi-year commitment to leverage $900 million in private and public funding for State Parks from 2011 to 2020. The 2015-16 budget allocates $110 million toward this initiative.

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