|
|
|
 Inside this issue:
Also Inside:
|
|
Behind the scenes of I Love My Park Day 2013
A huge thank you to everyone who helped make the second annual I Love My Park Day a resounding success. Together, we put the importance of the park system in the public's eye and accomplished much-needed cleanup, improvement and beautification projects at 78 state parks and historic sites.
Behind the nearly 4,000 volunteers that took part in this year's I Love My Park Day are individual stories of dedication and connection to our state parks and historic sites.
For example, during the roadside trail clean-up of the Old Route 30 (Toe Path) hiking trail at Max V. Shaul State Park, one gentleman single-handedly flipped an old refrigerator (easily weighing a couple of hundred pounds) end over end approximately 100 feet up a steep embankment to get to the roadway for pick-up. He put most of the volunteer crowd to shame as far as what one person can do to help - but inspired everyone present to be safe, work hard and show some tough love for their park!
As the I Love My Park Day event began to get underway at Fort Ontario State Historic Site, a line from a 1998 Julian Lennon song kept repeating itself in site curator Jennifer Emmons' mind: "If you can't even take care of the past, how do you expect the future to last..."* Richard and Maryke Patchett and their grandchildren, Tom  Westpfal, 12, and Erica Westpfal, 8, had driven to Oswego from Syracuse to participate in their second I Love My Park Day at Fort Ontario. The Patchetts, members of the Friends group, hope to make it an annual tradition. When Jennifer asked the grandkids if they wanted to go to the fort and do I Love My Park Day there again, they both enthusiastically said 'Yes!' When they attended the event last year, they had been assigned the job of placing flag holders and American flags on the graves of all the soldiers in the Post Cemetery. This year they requested the job.
When Jennifer expressed her gratitude to them, the Patchett/Westpfal family was notably humble. "It's just a great opportunity to help the fort and spend time with the grandkids," said Maryke as Richard nodded in agreement. When asked what he thought of the job he had just done, Tom Westpfal replied "It's a fun way to do community service. It felt good!" And in case you're a cynic and think that they may have asked for the easiest job on the docket, once they were done in the cemetery Jennifer caught sight of them pushing wheelbarrow loads of mulch to the various flower bed sites along the parking lot throughout the afternoon and finishing up some of the weeding the morning teams hadn't gotten to.
*How Many Times, Julian Lennon, Photograph Smile �1999
|
Next round of capital projects at state parks announced
Governor Cuomo announced $90 million in project funding for more than 50 state parks and historic sites. Projects range from replacing deteriorated comfort stations at Thacher State Park in Albany to upgrading the electric system at Letchworth State Park to various improvements at Jones Beach. This is the second round of capital funding through NY Works, bringing much-needed repairs and local jobs and providing a boost to tourism in every region of the state. See the full list of slated improvements.
|
Natural resources in parks
Environmental stewardship projects funded by NY Works
New York State Parks completed a number of environmental stewardship projects to prevent the spread of invasive species,
protect rare plants and animals, and improve natural habitat at parks. Roughly $311,500 was dedicated to these projects from
2012-13 New York Works funding.
 | |
Green Lakes State Park received NY Works funds to combat tree-of-heaven and spotted knapweed in grassland areas.
|
Clark Reservation and Chittenango Falls State Parks received $50,000 to contain invasive species threatening the endangered American hart's-tongue fern, which has 80% of its known U.S. population in these two state parks. Green Lakes State Park received money to combat tree-of-heaven and spotted knapweed in grassland areas, Seneca Lake State Park will begin a wetlands restoration project, and Watkins Glen State Park received nearly $150,000 from NY Works and the U.S. Forest Service to treat, survey, and monitor the Hemlock Wooly Adelgid, an invasive insect threatening the park's hemlock forests. For more details on these and all the projects, see OPRHP's press release.
An additional $1.5 million has been allocated for resource stewardship and environmental projects from the capital funding included in the 2013-2014 budget. These funds will advance dozens of projects to improve habitat, remove invasive species, improve water quality, restore wetlands, and enhance interpretation projects in state parks and historic sites.
|
Memorial Day openings for Sandy-battered parks
Jones Beach and Robert Moses State Parks were two of many Long Island state parks that opened over Memorial Day weekend, despite the heavy damage these parks experienced as a result of Superstorm Sandy. A new boardwalk
 | |
The new boardwalk at Jones Beach State park
|
has been completed at Jones Beach using Brazilian hardwood, which can better withstand oceanfront weather. Heckscher State Park's beach, bathrooms, and concessions are open, but the parking lot is only partially open. At Sunken Meadow State Park, the main area has been opened, but access is still restricted in the eastern park where heavy tree damage occurred during Sandy. Nissequogue River State Park and Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve are open, but Caumsett's trails and fishing access road remain closed.
Belmont Lake State Park opened for Memorial Day weekend in the midst of fence repairs, tree work, and stump grinding. Bayard Cutting Arboretum and Captree State Parks and Connetquot River State Park Preserve are also now open. These state parks have had busy spring seasons as they rebounded from the severe damage Sandy inflicted. PTNY congratulates these parks on their on-time opening, a product of the dedicated work of park employees and contractors. See the Governor's recent press release for a complete list of the status of Long Island state parks.
While all state parks in New York are now open, some local parks remain closed. To see if specific coastal parks on Long Island, Staten Island, New Jersey, and Connecticut are now open, check out this interactive graphic in The New York Times.
|
Big anniversaries for 3 NYC state parks
Roberto Clemente, Riverbank, and Gantry Plaza State Parks celebrate
Three state parks in New York City are celebrating big anniversaries this year: Gantry Plaza State Park in Queens is turning 15, Riverbank State Park in Manhattan is turning 20, and Roberto Clemente State Park is the Bronx is turning 40.
Gantry Plaza was founded around former industrial piers, and this heritage remains an integral part of the park today. The restored railroad gantries at the center of Gantry Plaza are surrounded by manicured gardens and a mist fountain. Visitors to the park can gaze through these industrial monuments at the New York City skyline, or they can play basketball, fish, play handball, or bring the kids to the playground. The Friends of Gantry held a reception on May 19 to commemorate the park's 15th anniversary.
 | |
From left to right, State Assemblyman Herman D. Farrell, former Governor Mario Cuomo, Governor Andrew Cuomo, and Matilda Cuomo attending Riverbank's 20th anniversary celebration.
|
Riverbank's 20th anniversary was celebrated with pomp and circumstance on May 18. Former Governor Mario Cuomo, who was governor at the time of the park's establishment, and his son, Governor Andrew Cuomo, were both a part of the festivities. The event included a parade, a marching band, and carnival activities all afternoon. Riverbank State Park is truly unique in that it is built entirely above a sewage treatment facility. The park rises 69 feet above the Hudson River and offers an Olympic-sized pool, a theater, a restaurant, a full track and field, and ice skating in the winter.
Roberto Clemente also has a big anniversary this year: 40! The park, originally named the Hudson River Park, was renamed after Hall of Fame Baseball player and humanitarian Roberto Clemente, who died tragically in a plane crash in 1972. On June 27 at 11:00am, Goya Foods is presenting a reception where a new Roberte Clemente statue will be unveiled in the park. This event is meant to celebtrate and honor Clemente's lifetime achievements.
|
State Park Police add to ranks for first time in 5 years
36 new officers join New York State Park Police
New York State Park Police provide safe and enjoyable recreational opportunities for New York State residents and visitors in New York's over 200 state parks and historic sites. Because of budget cuts to the state park system since the economic downturn, however, park police numbers have shrunk.
This year, state park police are finally adding to their ranks.
Last month, 36 new officers graduated from the New York State Park Police Academy in Rensselaerville, outside Albany. This is the academy's first graduation for new officers since 2008.
For more on the State Park Police, visit their website or the website of their Benevolent Association.
|
Park Profiles: Wellesley Island State Park
Despite the fact that Wellesley Island State Park sits in the middle of the St. Lawrence River, it is home to the largest camping complex in the Thousand Islands Region and the highly acclaimed Minna Anthony Common Nature Center. This state park in the Thousand Islands also features sandy beaches, a 9-hole golf course, boating facilities, and trails for hiking, cross-country skiing and snow-shoeing. The campground was named one of the 100 best campgrounds in the U.S. by Reserve America in 2004, which is not hard to believe after looking at just a few photos of this picturesque region.
The Minna Anthony Common Nature Center is another highlight of Wellesley Island State Park. The center is named after Minna Anthony Common, a naturalist who founded the North Country Bird Club and was, for many years, the Federal Bird Observer for Jefferson County (see this video for more on Minna Anthony Common).
This educational facility sits on a pristine 600-acre peninsula of Wellesley Island and is surrounded by 8 miles of hiking trails and 7 miles of cross country ski trails. The center also includes a butterfly house that features native flora and butterflies.
If you find yourself in New York's beautiful Thousand Islands region, consider stopping by this island park and taking a look at its quality nature center. In the meantime, check out this coverage of May's I Love My Park Day at the Minna Anthony Common Nature Center.
|
News from Friends groups
If you have news to share in the next issue ofYou Gotta Have Friends, let us know.
Friends of John Jay Homestead celebrate opening of new visitor center
Friends of John Jay Homestead recently had a reception to allow supporters to preview their new almost-complete Carriage Barn Education and Visitors Center.  | |
John Jay Homestead's new Carriage Barn Education and Visitors Center
|
The Opening Night Party featured cocktails, local farm-fresh food provided by Bedford Gourmet, and a silent auction inside the Carriage Barn, the restoration of which began in early 2013. The Friends of John Jay raised money for the Carriage Barn restoration through the reception's ticket sales. To donate, go to their website.
Friends of East River State Park secure $450,000 to build a dog run
After a long road of proposal crafting, fundraising, marketing, and awareness-raising, the Friends of East River State Park will be building a brand new dog run. They have secured $450,000 in funds from City Councilmember Stephen Levin's discretionary capital budget through a participatory budget process
 | |
An artist's rendering of the future East River State Park Dog Run
|
. Local residents voted for this project thanks to the hard work of the Friends of East River State Park and the Friends of ERSP Dog Run.
The next step in this project is the planning and design phase. Friends of East River State Park will collaborate with the
|
That's What Friends Are For
Volunteer Profile: Jane Daniels
Volunteers are essential to our state parks and historic sites. That's What Friends Are For, in which we profile a dedicated Friends group volunteer, is a regular feature in You Gotta Have Friends.
Jane Daniels sets goals and achieves them. Whether it's knitting 500 hats (she's up to over 300) or getting a new trails project off the ground, Jane gets things done. And now she's putting that driving spirit towards growing the Friends of FDR State Park.
 | |
Jane Daniels, with husband Walt, is the energetic President of Friends of FDR State Park.
|
This former reference librarian got involved with the Friends right from the beginning. Park staff put together a meeting in March 2011 to gauge interest in forming a Ffririends group. Since Jane was involved with the Yorktown Community Trails project and FDR State Park is a potential trail connector, she attended. Plus, FDR is her local park. Though she missed the next couple of meetings, by the fourth meeting she was already taking on an active role as manager of the membership base. That led to a Secretary position and when the president stepped down because of time constraints, Jane stepped up; last fall she became President of the Friends. Although much of her work has centered around trails, Jane is no stranger to state parks; she also helped get the Friends of Fahnestock off the ground.
Read more about Jane Daniels and Friends of FDR State Park.
|
You Gotta Have Tips: Bylaws Checklist
You Gotta Have Tips is a regular feature of You Gotta Have Friends in which we provide capacity-building and technical-assistance tips
The following article appeared in Blue Avocado's Board Caf� on May 29, 2010. The very m ention of bylaws in a board meeting is usually met with dread. It typically means either that a conflict has risen to the point where the bylaws must be consulted, or it means that someone is pointing out an area of noncompliance that has gone unnoticed for years. This Checklist points out the necessary elements in bylaws. Because regulations about nonprofit bylaws are done individually by state (rather than the federal government) there is quite a bit of variation. For example, in Ohio and New York, nonprofit boards must have a minimum of three members, but in California the minimum is one. It's important to obtain the applicable state laws and make sure that the bylaws are in compliance. In addition, some cities have further regulations for nonprofits. Ask your city attorney's office for guidance. For example, some states and cities have different rules for nonprofit organizations for which the board automatically includes an elected official or government employee as a result of that individual's election or employment. Keep reading the bylaws checklist.
|
|
Parks & Trails New York is a member of Earth Share New York, an alliance of leading nonprofit environmental organizations. For more information about workplace giving to Parks & Trails New York and Earth Share, check out www.earthshareny.org.
|
|
|
|
|
Spring 2013
Celebrating
more than 25 years
of advocacy for New York's parks and trails
|
| Stay connected!
There are lots of ways to stay up-to-date on the latest news affecting our magnificent state park system and stay connected to other park supporters. If you're not already on our email list, visit our website to join. Friends groups can connect through the Discussion Forum. You can also follow us:
  
|
Become a non-profit member
Is your Friends group a member of Parks & Trails New York? PTNY works to build the capacity of Friends groups, expand outreach and communications, and enhance advocacy efforts. With continued economic constraints, it is more important than ever that the network of Friends groups grows and strengthens.
Some of the tools PTNY offers include spearheading I Love My Park Day, publishing the You Gotta Have Friends eNewsletter, and providing capacity grants, technical assistance and an online Friends Resource Kit. PTNY also gives a voice to Friends groups at the Capitol.
Become a non-profit organization member of PTNY today!
|
Are you on our list of over 60 Friends Groups?
|
Congratulations PTNY Park & Trail Award winners!
PTNY's Park & Trail Recognition Awards honor the leadership, creativity, and donation of time, talent, and materials behind many of New York's most treasured assets. Among the 2013 winners are Ned Chapman, proprietor of Sunnyside Gardens, for establishing the New York Flower Power Plants for Parks Program and for Sunnyside's years of commitment to the entry gardens at Saratoga Spa State Park; Edgar Masters, for his commitment to designing and creating an appropriate cover for Taconic State Park's massive blast furnace, the centerpiece of the park's historic Copake Iron Works; and Timothy Sullivan (posthumously), Palisades Interstate Park Commission, for 66 years of dedication to parks and trails of the Hudson Valley. Learn more about these and all the winners.
|
Park bill in the Senate: resident curator at state parks
A bill in the New York State Senate would authorize OPRHP to enter into agreements with private individuals willing to invest private funds to rehabilitate and maintain vacant and at-risk residential buildings in state parks and historic sites. These are buildings for which the agency has no public use and lacks the funds or staff resources to maintain. The private individuals would sign a 40-year lease to live in the building, while ownership of the building would remain with OPRHP. Three particular properties on Long Island would inaugurate the program at Cold Spring Harbor, Heckscher, and Hither Hills State Parks.
PTNY believes this bill is an innovative use of public-private partnerships that can help to save historic properties that OPRHP would otherwise not have the funds in which to invest. For full text of the bill, S.4757 (Zeldin), see here. Read PTNY's memo of support.
|
Public meetings set for Genesee Valley Greenway Plan
There will be a series of public meetings in June to gather input regarding the creation of a management plan for the 90-mile Genesee Valley Greenway. All meetings begin at 6:00pm with a one-hour workshop and a formal meeting starting at 7:00 p.m:
- June 18- Crossroads Conference Center, 6087 NYS Route 19 North, Belmont
- June 19- Mt. Morris Dam Visitor Center, 6103 Visitor Center Road, Mount Morris
- June 20- Wheatland Senior Center, 22 Main Street, Scottsville
An information packet for the meetings is available online. Written comments will also be accepted until Friday, July 19, 2013. Please send them to: Salim Chishti, OPRHP, Planning Bureau, Albany, NY 12238 or Genesee-Greenway.plan@parks.ny.gov.
|
Expanded smoke-free areas in state parks
You can now breathe a little easier at state parks. Smoke-free areas now include specific swimming beaches pavilions and picnic shelters, developed athletic facilities, boardwalks, outdoor seating areas near concessions, areas where outdoor environmental education programs are held, public gardens, places where children or large numbers of visitors congregate, and within 50 feet of buildings. Visit OPRHP's website for a complete breakdown of the new smoking regulations by region.
|
New bike access to Jones Beach
The new Jones Beach access path, a direct link between Long Island's Wantagh Park
way Bike-Pedestrian Path and Jones Beach State Park, opened over Memorial Day weekend. Previously, visitors had to walk the � mile to the beach once they reached the end of the bike path. This connector path will mark the first time that cyclists on the 7.5-mile Wantagh path can directly access the beach. New construction also included storage for 100 bicycles. See our facebook page for photos.
|
Camper Assistance Program
The Camper Assistance Program (CAP) offers seasoned campers an opportunity to share their expertise and love of the outdoors with other people at parks operated by OPRHP. In return, CAP volunteers receive a free camping site. Anyone can participate in the CAP program; you just need to have camping experience, be at least 18 years of age, and be able to spend at least two weeks at one of the participating state parks campgrounds. Volunteers will be asked to work just two to five hours per day. See here for a list of state parks that offer a Camper Assistance Program.
|
Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) round announced
Governor Cuomo recently announced the next round of the Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) process. The CFA will open to applicants starting on June 17th and submissions from the Regional Councils are due September 24th. The State Parks' website has information about preparing an application for a grant through the CFA. Take a look at some of their tips and helpful hints so that your group is ready when the application comes out!
|
|
Dates to remember
June 11, 2013: 2013 Park & Trail Recognition Awards ceremony, Albany June 17, 2013:New York begins accepting applications through Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) process Save the date! May 3, 2014: I Love My Park Day 2014
|
|
Visit the State Parks website:
|
 Visit us online at
29 Elk St. Albany, NY 12207
(ph) 518-434-1583
(fax) 427-0067
|
|
