Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

July 16, 2024

(518) 486-1868 | news@parks.ny.gov

New York State Parks Presents Legacy Celebration at Letchworth State Park

Letchworth State Park to Honor the New York State Parks Centennial by Hosting a Family-Friendly, Day-Long Event on Saturday, July 20 

Event Supports the Governor's Summer Campaign to Help Kids and Families "Get Offline, Get Outside"   

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) is thrilled to invite the public to the New York State Parks Legacy Celebration at Letchworth State Park on Saturday, July 20, 2024 in Castile, NY. The theme of the program is "Inherit the Legacy" and will take place at multiple locations in the park from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.  

"For decades, Letchworth State Park and other sites across the state have been prime destinations for generations of New Yorkers," said Randy Simons, OPRHP Commissioner Pro Tempore. "In the state parks near the Genesee River, you can whitewater raft, horseback ride, snowmobile, cross country ski, help make maple syrup, swim in a Great Lake, and take a ride in a hot air balloon next to thundering waterfalls. We are honored to host a one-time celebration where like us, everyone has an opportunity to inherit the legacy that is our state parks system."  

The schedule for the event is as follows:  

·         8 a.m. - 10 a.m. Breakfast Buffet at Glen Iris Inn featuring historic reenactments

·         11 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Legacy Ceremony at Lower Falls

·         1 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. Area history presentation by local historian Tom Cooke at Humphrey Nature Center, supported by the Friends of Letchworth SP

·         3 p.m. - 7 p.m. Special activities in the Highbanks Recreation Area including face painting, balloon artists, hot air balloon tethering, and food vendors

·         5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. Performances by area theater troupe Shake on the Lake

·         7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Live Music by Nik and the Nice Guys

·         9:30 p.m. -- 10 p.m. Fireworks Display

Most programs are free. The breakfast buffet is $20/person and reservations can be made by calling (585) 493-2622. Certain activities at the Highbanks Recreation Area require a fee. Standard Vehicle Entrance Fees also apply.  

This event supports the Governor's "Get Offline, Get Outside" initiative, which was launched earlier this month to promote physical and mental health by helping New York's kids and families to put down their phones and computers, take a break from social media, and enjoy recreation and outdoor social gatherings. 

In addition to attending the Legacy Celebration, OPRHP encourages visitors to participate in the ongoing Centennial Challenge and to create a submission for the "Share Your Story" initiative. The Centennial Challenge is a year-long opportunity for visitors to earn a commemorative sticker and be entered into a contest to win special prizes. The "Share Your Story" campaign allows parkgoers to submit their favorite memories of visiting or working at a New York State park or historic site.