Press Releases
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April, 2024
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New York’s Largest Earth Day Celebration Kicks Off Friday, April 19 with Canal Clean Sweep
Community organizations, volunteer groups, businesses, and students across New York State are making final preparations for the 19th annual Canal Clean Sweep, April 19-21, 2024. Canal Clean Sweep, organized by Parks & Trails New York and New York State Canal Corporation, is an annual clean-up event held across the NYS Canal System and Canalway Trail. More than 190 Clean Sweep events are scheduled across the 400-mile-long Canalway Trail system and the 524-mile-long Canal system, providing opportunities for thousands of residents to give back to their local communities and to show pride in one of New York’s most iconic cultural and recreational resources.
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Canalway Trail System now receives 4 million visits per year
ALBANY, NY – The Erie Canalway and the Champlain Canalway Trails continue to receive high levels of use year after year, according to the newly released Who’s on the Trail 2023: Canalway Trail report from Parks & Trails New York (PTNY) and the New York State Canal Corporation (NYSCC). The report estimates that the Canalway Trail System receives roughly 3.95 million visits per year, based on data from electronic counters installed at 33 locations over the past five years.
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March, 2024
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Four New Communities to Work Towards Coveted 'Trail Town' Status
The City of Little Falls, City of Amsterdam, Village of Schuylerville and Town of Fort Edward to join the innovative Empire State Trail-based economic development program.
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Statement from Parks & Trails New York on ‘One-House’ FY 2025 Budget Proposals
(ALBANY, NY) – Parks & Trails New York (PTNY) celebrates vital support from the New York State Legislature for increased funding for our public lands, recognizing the critical need to invest in our beloved parks, greenway trails, and open spaces. This support for increased funding comes after more than 140 Friends Groups, environmental and public health advocates, and other representatives of the “green scarf brigade” traveled to Albany last month to make the case for increased funding to match the recent multi-year increase in parks visitation and parks-related economic activity.
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January, 2024
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PTNY Statement on the Governor's FY 2025 State Budget Proposal
(ALBANY, NY) - Governor Kathy Hochul’s proposed FY 2025 Executive Budget seeks to provide a necessary increase in funding for parks and public lands, but fails to rise to the level needed while simultaneously cutting resources for vital programs. As New York celebrates the Centennial of our State Park System in 2024, it is imperative we continue to invest in our beloved parks, greenway trails, and open spaces, which provide the critical infrastructure necessary to meet the rising demand for public green spaces along with the expansive health, economic, and climate mitigation benefits they provide.
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New Tool for Local Trail Advocates Will Help Expand New York’s Growing Greenway Trail Network
Parks & Trails New York (PTNY) and the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) release a new handbook to guide grassroots advocates through the steps to take the vision for a new multi-use path from concept to reality
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$1.8 Million in Grants Awarded to State Parks, Trails, Historic Sites and Public Lands Partner Organizations
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced $1.8 million in grants to support 27 not-for-profit organizations involved with stewardship of state parks, trails, historic sites and other public lands. The grants support public private partnerships leveraging private funds for new state park amenities, to engage in state park & historic site maintenance and beautification projects, and to provide educational programming and special events. The focus of this round is on the 2024 New York State Park Centennial Celebration, which promotes public use of the parks.
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Parks & Trails New York Statement on Governor Hochul's 'NY SWIMS' Initiative
[Albany, NY] - Parks & Trails New York, the leading statewide advocate for parks, trails and public lands, celebrates Governor Kathy Hochul's visionary 'NY SWIMS' initiative, unveiled as the fourth proposal of her 2024 State of the State address on Friday
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May, 2023
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Governor Hochul Announces $1.8 Million in Grants Awarded to State Parks, Trails, Historic Sites and Public Lands Partner Organizations
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced $1.8 million in grants to support 28 not-for-profit organizations involved with stewardship of state parks, trails, historic sites and public lands, the highest amount awarded in the Park and Trail Partnership Grants program history. The grants support partner group efforts to raise private funds for capital projects, engage in maintenance and beautification projects, provide educational programming, and host special events that promote public use of the parks.
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Parks & Trails New York announces funding for Genesee Valley Trail Towns
Parks & Trails New York today announced the recipients of $50,000 in grants to support communities participating in the Genesee Valley Trail Town initiative. Grants will provide amenities for residents and visitors along. Genesee Valley Greenway State Park and in nearby villages and towns
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