Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

March 28, 2025

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

New York State Parks’ Interactive Digital Timeline Explores Post-Millenium Era of Climate Change, Public Engagement, Recession, and Trail Development

New Era Of ‘Blazing a Trail' Covers 2000 to the Present Day

Educational Tool Launched During Centennial Celebration

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation today announced the release of a new installment of the interactive, online timeline ‘Blazing a Trail: A History of New York State Parks and Historic Sites'. This project employs photographs, illustrations, paintings, documents, archival footage, maps, and well-researched narratives to tell the story of the development of the New York State Parks system.

This era, titled "A New Millenium," explores the period from 2000 to the present day. In this era, we learn about ambitious plans to preserve more than one million acres, the impact of the Great Recession, and how advocacy groups and the public mobilized to prevent parks from closing and support them through initiatives like "I Love My Park Day." The rails-to-trails trend that began in the previous decades accelerated, and the Empire State Trail, which connects the entire state, opened for use. The timeline discusses the agency's diverse leadership over the last 25 years, and how new climate change realities have been navigated while also continuing to position New York as a nationwide recreation destination. The newest installment, "A New Millenium," is available here, along with previously released eras.

"The story of our parks in the 21st century is one of resilience and hope," said Randy Simons, Commissioner Pro Tempore of the Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation. "Our 5,000+ dedicated employees will take pride in seeing their efforts—and those of their mentors—highlighted in this installment of Blazing a Trail. As we look ahead to the final installment of this project in April, we are reminded of the obstacles overcome and the resilient vision established during challenging times. These achievements inspire us to forge a path toward the next century of our cherished park system."

In the first eras, 'Blazing a Trail' readers learned about the drive to conserve natural spaces during the rapid development of the late 1800s and the shift in focus from preservation to recreation. They met leaders who created the system of parks and historic sites we know today and guided its development. The third era took users into the Great Depression and New Deal years and examined the role of the park system during World War II. In the fourth era, users got a look at the post-war period through the lens of the park system. The fifth era explored leadership changes and park expansion during the Rockefeller years of the 1960s. The sixth era discussed the agency's expansion into New York City, the conservation of open space, and the response to increased public interest in historic preservation. The final era of 'Blazing a Trail' will cover the future of parks and historic sites.

'Blazing a Trail' was created in celebration of the Parks Centennial in 2024. The yearlong statewide celebration included special campaigns, events and exhibits held at parks, historic sites and partnering agencies and organizations throughout the year; and the documentary "From Land to Legacy," produced by PBS affiliate WMHT, which premiered in September 2024 and continues to air on PBS affiliates statewide.

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation