Inside this issue:

• Support parks at Park Advocacy Day - March 5 
• Show your parks some love: I Love My Park Day 2013
• We want to work with you!
• Despite Sandy, parks thrive in 2012
• Make their day! Recognize and honor our park and trail champions
• New Study: State Parks home to many rare species
• Weddings in the park
• News from Friends groups  
• That's What Friends Are For: Ann Rocker
• You Gotta Have Tips: To blog or not to blog

Also Inside: 

• Become a non-profit member 
• Park Friends get boost from PTNY grants
• Grants for Friends groups - deadlines approaching 
• Washington's Headquarters Museum reopens   
• Speaking out for parks  
• "Plants for Parks" beautifies State Parks   
• PIPC archival images going online  
• Dates to remember  
• Resources for Friends groups 

We want to work with you!  

A new study quantifies the number and significance of rare species that live in New York's state parks. Professor of Biology George Robinson of the University at Albany, SUNY published his findings in the October 2012 issue of Natural Areas Journal.

NY supports 10 populations of the federally listed Northern Monk's-hood (Aconitum noveboracense). Photo by Stephen M. Young, courtesy New York Heritage Program.

Dr. Robinson used a new theory to assess the importance of protecting a specific species in a given locale. The concept, called "stewardship responsibility," takes into account the percentage of the species' global population that lives in the particular region. For instance, if a species has 70% of its population in New York, it would merit more conservation efforts here than a species with only 5% of its population in the state. Thus, NY would have a higher stewardship responsibility for that species.

Using data from the state's Natural Heritage Program, Dr. Robinson found that NY averages 3.57 rare species in each park, with an average of 2.65 significant ecological communities. Dr. Robinson argues that these results offer clear proof that state parks are "major stewards of biodiversity" in New York. We should celebrate the state parks system for maintaining this wealth of biological heritage, he argues, but also invest in our state parks to ensure the long-term viability of these biological resources.

In other words, Dr. Robinson's study tells us something that we've probably already suspected: New York's state parks are home to some magnificent and unique ecosystems, and it's our job to protect them.

News from Friends groups 

Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct honored

Mavis Cain, President of Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct, with Assemblyman Tom Abinanti, Assemblyman / Photo by Amie Getis

Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct (OCA) are among the recipients of this year's Volunteer Spirit Awards, which were announced last month by The Volunteer Center of United Way. The Friends have been active in improving and filling gaps in the OCA Trail and have worked with NYC Parks to begin the restoration of the High Bridge, an historic, 165-year-old pedestrian bridge high above the Harlem River that has been closed to the public for 40 years. PTNY congratulates the Friends of the OCA on the award as well as their success in receiving a capacity-building grant from PTNY. Keep up that volunteer spirit!  

New Friends group for Long Point State Park

Sitting on the shores of Lake Chautauqua in the Finger Lakes is Long Point State Park. The park has traditionally been used for picnicking and hunting, but much of the park is underutilized outside of hunting season. John Riley, a former cross-country coach, saw runners and others using roads rather than the park's trails and wanted to find a way to get people to enjoy all the park has to offer.

The Friends of Long Point State Park formed only a couple of months ago and already they are making good progress and have generated a lot of interest in the community. The Friends, led by a steering committee of six people, is focused on clearing and developing the trails in the park, including possibly building a couple of bridges, and will soon begin fundraising. The Friends have developed a small flyer and a rough map of the trails in progress as well as started a Facebook group. For more information, contact John Riley.

Restoring an American monument  

The Tower of Victory has stood high above the Hudson River in Newburgh for 125 years.

In 1883, Robert Todd Lincoln (only son of Abraham and Mary Lincoln, and played recently by Joseph Gordon Levitt in the film adaptation of Lincoln's life) commissioned the Tower of Victory to be built at Washington's Headquarters in Newburgh. This monument has stood guard high above the Hudson River for the past 125 years in what is now Washington's Headquarters State Historic Site.

Unfortunately, its monumental stance has left it vulnerable to the elements. Wind and water have taken their toll on the basic structure of the monument. The gates are inoperable, the roof and its erstwhile viewing platform have been removed, and the staircases are crumbling in the once treasured monument to America's earliest president.

To prevent the tower from falling into even further disrepair, the Palisades Parks Conservancy has launched a capital campaign to raise $1.3 million. Over $600,000 has been raised to date. Learn more about the Tower of Victory and the campaign to save it.