Park Advocacy Day unites 90+ organizations
Another successful Park Advocacy Day is in the books!
130+ New Yorkers from 90+ organizations across the state met with 80 legislative offices in Albany last month, urging legislators to increase funding for critical public lands programs. Organized alongside our friends at Open Space Institute, Park Advocacy Day connects advocates from across New York with state lawmakers to give public lands a voice.
The organizations in attendance represented a wide range of interests, including municipalities, landscape architecture firms, healthcare organizations, parks friends groups, and other grassroots non-profit groups.
In its 19th year, Park Advocacy Day encouraged state lawmakers to increase funding beyond Governor Hochul’s proposed Executive Budget. The five asks include:
Increase the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) to $500 Million
The EPF supports and protects public lands by providing critical funding for stewardship, public access, municipal parks, and Park and Trail Partnership Grants. The EPF has grown year over year but has plateaued at $400 million for the past three years while funding needs continue to increase.
Within an expanded EPF, park advocates are seeking $40 million for the municipal parks program, which is currently proposed at $25.9 million. The program receives 3x more requests than it is able to fund, with only 38% of projects in environmental justice communities.
Park advocates are also requesting $10 million to create the Greenway Trail Connections and Enhancements Program. The 750-mile Empire State Trail fails to reach 35 of New York’s 50 most populous communities. An allocation of $10 million would be administered by New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP), and include competitive grants to local governments and not-for-profit organizations, with a focus on increasing access for underserved populations.
Increase funding for the Park and Trail Partnership Grant Program to $4 million
Funded through the EPF, the Park and Trail Partnership Grant Program allocates money to non-profit Friends groups that champion the state’s public lands. Projects enhance preservation, increase capabilities of not-for-profit organizations, and promote tourism and economic development through the creation of accessible spaces.
Since 2015, 245 grants totaling $9.9 million have been awarded, leveraging $3.6 million in private investment, and creating 23 permanent staffing positions. Requests continue to exceed available funding with over $5 million in requests denied in just the last two rounds, preventing nearly 40 projects from advancing.
Increase funding for the Connect Kids to Parks Program to $4 million
Also funded through the EPF, the Connect Kids to Parks program provides reimbursement for transportation costs to swim instruction programs and field trips that bring underserved students to outdoor recreational activities, public lands, and parks.
The Connect Kids Program has provided transportation for more than 800,000 K-12 students since 2016. Funding requests have grown by 500% since 2021, and an increase in funding would enable 250,000 additional students to visit and participate.
Support capital funding for the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) at $200 million
With state parks welcoming a record-breaking $88 million visitors in 2024, it’s crucial OPRHP maintains its current $200 million funding.
Capital Funding for OPRHP will help ensure the state’s 216 parks and historic sites provide safe and attractive facilities, accessible and affordable services, and quality, welcoming experiences for all New Yorkers. These necessary ADA upgrades include elevators at historic properties, updated parking lots, and renovating existing bathrooms and building entrances to be ADA compliant.
Increase Adventure NY funding for capital investments on New York State lands to $100 Million
The state's Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Adventure NY funding has remained stagnant at $90 million for the past three years. A critical increase of $10 million will address capital needs to improve access to state lands, rehabilitate campgrounds, and upgrade recreational facilities that can date back nearly 100 years. With the increasing popularity of the DEC’s sizable 5 million acres of land, it is imperative funding is accordingly allocated to meet the agency’s growing responsibilities.
Since Park Advocacy Day on February 25, the State Senate and Assembly have released the proposed budgets, which reflect our 5 asks. The one-house budgets propose $500 million for the Environmental Protection Fund, $4 million for Park & Trail Partnership Grants and $4.625 million/$4.5 million for Connect Kids to Parks.
We will continue to fight to ensure these proposals are included in the final budget due on April 1. As champions and users of public lands, we urge Governor Hochul and legislative leaders to uphold this commitment to parks, trails, and outdoor access by securing these funding levels in the enacted budget!