Advocacy
As we conclude the centennial celebration of New York's State Parks in 2024 and gear up for Parks & Trails New York's 40th anniversary in 2025, this is a defining moment. Our public lands–325,000 acres of parks and historic sites, 5 million acres of forests and wetlands, and over 2,000 miles of greenway trails–are more than just places. They are the heart of our communities, our economy, and our shared future.
Since 1985, Parks & Trails New York has fought to protect, defend and expand New York State’s vast portfolio of public lands, including 180 state parks and the 750-mile the Empire State Trail, which Outside Magazine recently ranked as the #1 greenway trail in the United States.
For 2025, we are ramping up our advocacy efforts to ensure that our most popular parks, greenway trails and open spaces are equipped to accommodate the record demand for outdoor experiences. Though each of our proposed policy changes, bills and budgetary aims are different, they all add up to one thing: high-quality public lands that are welcoming and accessible to all.
State Parks and Public Lands
New York State is at a turning point, as we look to the next century of our state parks system. Our state leaders have a decision to make – do they want to once again allow our iconic system to fall into disrepair, driving away visitors and starting a downward cycle of under-utilization, leading to economic loss and negative health and environmental impacts in communities across the state? Or will we invest in the future of this world-class system, providing residents and visitors with accessible facilities, welcoming diverse users and further enhancing the livability of our communities.
Greenway Trails Advocacy
On the cusp of the New York State Parks’ Centennial in 2024, Parks & Trails New York envisions a fully realized network of linear greenspace–accessible to all New Yorkers and functioning as a driver for equity, public health, and the economy–connecting New York State for the next 100 years and beyond. While additional funding is critical to meeting this need, policy and regulation changes are also needed to ensure that trail users can have a safe, enjoyable, high-quality experience on New York’s greenway trails.
Coalitions
PTNY has joined with many of our partners around the state as a member of various coalitions to pursue areas of shared interest. Learn more below. If you would like to request that PTNY join your coalition, please email ptny@ptny.org.
New Yorkers for Clean Water and Jobs Coalition
We all need clean air to breathe and safe water to drink. We also need healthy communities, a strong economy, and local recreation. New York’s environmental programs provide all this and more. By fighting to maintain a $400 million Environmental Protection Fund, we can build a more vibrant future for New York. Learn more at cleanwaterandjobs.org.
New York Outdoor Recreation Coalition
New York State Safe Streets Coalition
The SAFE Streets Act is a package of bills that will redesign our streets with safety as a priority to protect all road users, and address the speeding rampant on our streets. Learn more at transalt.org/safe.