Press Release
May 27, 1998
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Brian Vattimo
518/486-1868
MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND SEES BIG ATTENDANCE INCREASE AT NEW YORK STATE PARKS
(Albany, New York May 27, 1998....) Attendance at New York's 152 state parks was up 21 percent over Memorial Day weekend compared to last year, New York State Parks Commissioner Bernadette Castro announced today.
Commissioner Castro said 1,229,232 people visited New York's state parks during the three-day weekend, up from 1,008,930 in 1997 and the highest Memorial Day weekend attendance at state parks since 1994.
"This is a great way to start our summer season at our wonderful state parks system," said Governor Pataki, who officially opened Gantry Plaza State Park, the state's newest state park, last week at Queens West in New York City.
Commissioner Castro said Memorial Day weekend attendance at state parks on Long Island was up 38 percent, from 253,032 in 1997 to 348,847 this year. Attendance was also up dramatically in every other state park region, except New York City, where it was down 8 percent.
"We are looking forward to our best year ever at state parks," said Commissioner Castro.