PTNY Partner Spotlight: Andy Fyfe

“Everyone needs to find a ‘sit spot’- a place where they can enjoy nature and its benefits. When I was growing up in the Mohawk Valley, I had the privilege of living near a bird sanctuary that offered me a place to get away and engage with the outdoors. I would encourage—especially the next generation—to find that one spot that speaks to them. Our parks are great places to do that"

These childhood experiences motivate Andy Fyfe’s work to preserve and expand access to our public green spaces. Andy, Assistant Deputy Commissioner with the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, got his start at State Parks at Saratoga Spa State Park as part of the Student Conservation Association (SCA)—a program that engages young people in hands-on service to the land. After his service with SCA, Andy continued as an Environmental Educator for Saratoga Spa, then moved on to lead conservation efforts for Saratoga County as Stewardship Director for Saratoga P.L.A.N.

Throughout his career, Andy’s hands-on-work with the community has inspired and informed his focus on increasing access to green space. In his current position, Andy has the opportunity to channel his passion into work that directly impacts visitors’ experiences of and interactions with New York state parks and historic sites. From supporting open space programs and land acquisition, to overseeing statewide educational programming and visitor centers, Andy is able to put his love of New York’s green space to use for all New Yorkers.

A consummate proponent of community engagement, stemming from his time at Saratoga Spa, Andy greatly enjoys engaging with New York’s 76 Friends groups. Andy and his team—in partnership with organizations such as Parks & Trails New York—are serious about the success of Friends groups, supporting gatherings, state-wide conferences, and access to funding through Park and Trail Partnership Grants.

“Parks is a growth industry,” Andy says. “From national parks to other state systems, we know Friends are the future. We rely on them for education and fundraising, among other essential activities. We want to build their capacity and really ramp them up for success.”

With the historic investment in parks through the Parks 2020 Plan reaping great benefits for the state park system and Friends groups across the state, Andy is ready to focus on how we can grow the impact of Friends groups in the immediate-to-long-term future. “Friends are essential to the success of our parks and historic sites. I want to see more grants, more projects and more events to expand their work. We are going to do this by working closely with Parks & Trails New York and all of our partners.”

Andy views land acquisition, to continue growing our park and historic site network, as a critical component of building a bright future for New York’s green spaces. “I want us to create a network of public lands. We have a beautiful parks system. By developing trails and corridors to make connections between parks, we can make it even better.”

According to Andy, expanding educational programming presents another opportunity to deepen and grow the state parks network. “OPRHP is the dominant field science laboratory and hands-on learning classroom in the state. I want to work with schools to make sure every teacher that wants to go on a field trip to a park,is able to do so.”

"Not only is this a great way to create a new generation of environmental stewards, but also a way for young people to find their own ‘sit-spot’ and connect with nature.," Andy adds.

With a focus on community engagement through Friends groups, expansion of lands with connecting corridors, and deepening of meaning through expanded educational programming, Andy’s vision for the future of New York's parks and historic sites is extremely compelling. If you are interested in creating an even stronger future for New York's green spaces, join Andy, State Parks and Parks & Trails New York in this important work. Sign up to learn more here.