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NYS 10-year capital plan includes parks for first time ever
In even more good news for parks, the Governor released the first 10-year capital spending plan for the state earlier this month. The report (see pgs. 120-124) includes a target of more than $1.2 billion over the next 10 years for state parks capital funding, showing the Governor's continued recognition of the importance of sustained capital funding for the state park system.
The restoration of park infrastructure was one of the main recommendations of PTNY's landmark 2006 report Parks at a Turning Point and we are gratified by the Governor's inclusion of state parks in the capital budget for the first time ever.
For more news on state parks - including information on post-Sandy recovery efforts, park police, natural resources in parks, and much more - see the latest issue of You Gotta Have Friends.
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2013 Park & Trail Champions honored
 Parks & Trails New York honored park and trail champions with its Volunteer Service, Corporate Partnership, Public Leadership, Get Outdoors and Outside the Box Awards at a ceremony in Albany on June 11.
Click here to see photos and read more about the event and the eight award recipients.
Congratulations everyone!
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Join us!
Do you like parks? (C'mon, who doesn't?) Do you appreciate the use of good trails? Are you passionate about the importance of green space in New York State?
Become a member of PTNY today at $50 or more and you will receive 3 additional months of membership for free and be entered to win a stay at one of the historic park hotels featured in the following "Green Partners" story. Members receive great benefits across the state and all contributions and dues are 100% tax- deductible. Click here to become a member today.
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Thank you to our Green Partners
The following green partners have each generously donated a one-night stay in support of PTNY's 2013 Membership Drive. There's still time to become a member at $50 or more to be entered in the drawing taking place July 1! Visit our membership page for more information.
 Bear Mountain Inn
Built in 1915, this historic Hudson Valley retreat offers scenic views, hiking along the Appalachian Trail, and all that Bear Mountain State Park has to offer.
 Glen Iris Inn
Formerly the country estate of William Pryor Letchworth, the Glen Iris Inn has welcomed guests as a country inn since 1914. The Inn overlooks the magnificent Middle Falls on the Genesee River and is surrounded by the beauty of Letchworth State Park.
 Gideon Putnam
Surrounded by the lush, natural beauty of Saratoga Spa State Park, the Gideon Putnam Resort features historic charm, modern amenities and the excitement of Saratoga Springs.
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PTNY Growing the Grassroots Grant increases membership for park friends group
 Thanks to a $2,000 Growing the Grassroots grant from PTNY, the Friends of Minekill and Max V. Shaul State Parks in the Schoharie Valley have a new logo, website and membership brochure which have given the group greater visibility and support. After the membership brochure was mailed to local residents and made available at park events, membership increased 160 percent.
"Prior to receiving the Growing the Grassroots grant, we struggled to attract and hold new members. The grant allowed us to present ourselves more professionally and breathed new life into our group," said Brenda Weaver, Friends President.
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August deadlines for two park and trail funding opportunities
Transportation Enhancement Program
Bicycle and pedestrian facilities and preservation of abandoned railway corridors are eligible for $30 million in available funding through NYSDOT's Transportation Enhancement Program (TEP). This is the last round of funding from TEP. Application deadline is August 16, 2013.
Consolidated Funding Application (CFA)
Assistance for park and trail projects will be available from several state agencies through the Consolidated Funding Program, including the Environmental Protection Fund Municipal Park (park and trail projects), Recreational Trails, Canalway and Local Waterfront grant programs. For more information go to www.regionalcouncils.ny.gov. Applications are due August 12, 2013.
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Queens park the wrong choice for soccer stadium
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Fountain of the Planets - the site of the proposed stadium
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Major League Soccer wants to build a stadium for its newest franchise, the New York City Football Club, in the heart of Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens. But park advocates, including PTNY, have serious reservations about this privatization of public parkland.
Among PTNY's concerns is the impact of further development in the park on neighboring communities - as well as the park itself - since the park is frequently flooded during severe storms. The proposal is also a stark departure from the park's Strategic Framework Plan, completed with public input in 2010, which includes a strong focus on sustainability and reimagines the tired Fountain of the Planets - the site of the proposed stadium - as a vast green space. In light of Mayor Bloomberg's new long-term plan to prepare for the impacts of a changing climate, the soccer stadium proposal seems particularly incongruous and inappropriate.
PTNY does not oppose bringing Major League Soccer to NYC or building a stadium for professional soccer; however, PTNY does oppose the current proposal and the alienation of municipal parkland without a net gain in parkland or recreational opportunities. Read PTNY's full position statement on the proposed stadium.
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Next round of State Park capital projects 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.
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Efforts to protect iconic Palisades view gain momentum
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Simulated View (Click to enlarge)
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The Protect the Palisades coalition, of which PTNY is a member,
is working to stop the
intrusion on the scenic integrity of the Palisades by a 143-foot high-rise building, proposed by LG Electronics. The coalition recently took out a full-page ad in the New York Times urging LG to choose a low-rise design, and four former NJ governors recently came out in support of protecting the Palisades. Plus, in a rare about-face, the Environmental Protection Agency has withdrawn its involvement in the construction of a new corporate headquarters on the grounds that its height would disrupt "the natural beauty of the Palisades."
For more information on the coalition and what you can do to help, visit the website.
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Kaaterskill Rail Trail opens in the Catskills
The Mountain Top Historical Society celebrated National Trails Day Saturday, June 1 by opening the historic and long-awaited Kaaterskill Rail Trail in Haines Falls with enthusiastic speeches by representatives of the many organizations involved in its development, including the town of Hunter, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, the Mountain Top Historical Society and a handful of private property owners. The 1.5-mile trail runs from the grounds of the Mountain Top Historical Society to the end of Laurel House Road, just a five-minute walk from the top of Kaaterskill Falls in the 8,550-acre Kaaterskill Wild Forest Preserve.
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Mt. Beacon fire tower grand opening set
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The fire tower before (left) and after (right) restoration. Photos by David Rocco.
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The Mt. Beacon Fire Tower, located on the summit of South Beacon Mountain in the Hudson Highland region of Dutchess County, will officially reopen to the public for recreational use on Saturday, June 22. The tower, listed on both the NYS and National Registers of Historic Places and the National Historic Look Out Register, operated from 1932 until 1972. The Mt. Beacon Fire Tower Restoration Committee has worked since 2003 to raise funds to preserve and restore the fire tower. With a range of view of 75 miles or greater in clear weather, the tower has been a treasured hiking destination for years. |
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New study estimates annual economic impact of the proposed Catskill Mtn. Rail Trail to be more than $3 million
A study released by the NY-NJ Trails Conference shows significant economic benefits of the proposed Catskill Mountain Rail Trail. The report estimated the trail would generate $2 million in direct spending by non-local users resulting in nearly $1 million of additional indirect "spillover effects" for a total of $3.1 million in new sales in the County, 44 new jobs, and $1.1 million in new earnings. In addition, Ulster County would receive more than $110,000 annually in sales and bed tax revenue generated by this new economic activity.
The Friends of the Catskill Mountain Rail Trail have created a petition to encourage the Ulster County Legislature to develop the trail.
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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.
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June 2013
Celebrating more than 25 years of advocacy for New York's parks and trails
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TrailFinder Trail of the Month
Jones Beach Bikeway
Beach-bound travelers on Long Island's 4.5-mile Jones Beach Bikeway were once met with an abrupt end to the trail at the Jones Beach State Park parking lot, requiring cyclists to walk an additional ¾ mile to reach the beach. Thanks to a new bikeway extension, cyclists now have direct access to the beach. See PTNY's Facebook page for photos.
Check out the Jones Beach Bikeway and more of NY's multi-use trails on PTNY's TrailFinder.
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Say Parks! I Love My Park Day photo contest winners
Our photo contest winners not only gave back to parks by pitching in May 4th on I Love My Park Day, but they also showed their love for parks with some great photos. See all the winners. |
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Bike NYS this summer
Cycling the Erie Canal
July 7th - 14th
Register now to ride along the "Eighth Wonder of the World" on PTNY's 8-day, 400-mile ride from Buffalo to Albany.
Cycling the Hudson Valley
July 30th - August 4th
Register now and visit Olana State Historic Site, the Culinary Institute of America, and West Point on PTNY's 6-day, 200-mile ride from Albany to New York City along the Hudson River.
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Welcome new PTNY staff
Tiffany Soricelli joined Parks & Trails New York as the Director of Development in May 2013. Tiffany has several years of experience working as a passionate development professional and fundraiser in higher education and nonprofit management. As an avid hiker and aspiring Adirondack 46er, she is an enthusiastic advocate for New York's parks and trails and is excited to work to support them.
Tiffany holds a master's degree in education and earned her bachelor's in vocal performance and music business from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam. She currently serves on the board for Women in Development of Northeastern New York and, when not working or performing professionally in the area, she enjoys hiking, biking, bikram yoga and trail running.
Amelia Bach, a senior at The College of Saint Rose, joins PTNY as a summer intern. She will graduate with a degree in Communications in December. During her time at PTNY, she is working on expanding PTNY's social networking presence and updating our Cycling the Erie Canal guidebook. In her spare time, Amelia enjoys running, singing, and spending time with her family.
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Clean Sweep Photo Revue
You will never believe how much trash was collected until you check out photos from this year's 100 Canal Clean Sweep events. Can you find the canoes hauling bags of trash?
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PTNY in the field
At PTNY's May Board meeting at Norrie Point Environmental Center in Staatsburg, Board members and staff got up close and personal with the Hudson River by donning chest-high waders and venturing out into the river with a net to see what could be found. The process is known as "seining" and it turned up some interesting river dwellers.
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Comments sought on Genesee Valley Greenway Management Plan
The NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation will hold three public meetings June 18-20 to gather input for the creation of a management plan for the 90-mile Genesee Valley Greenway in western New York. Check out the information packet for the meetings. The deadline for July 19, 2013. PTNY led the effort to establish the Greenway in 1991.
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Management Plan for Adirondack rail corridor to be re-examined opening possibility for rail-trail
The New York State Departments of Transportation and Environmental Conservation have announced they will set up a public process to review the 18-year old Remsen-Lake Placid Travel Corridor Unit Management Plan (UMP). The goal is to assess the corridor's natural and physical resources and hear the views of residents, local officials, visitors and other stakeholders on the current and future use of the 119-mile corridor. In a recent letter to Governor Cuomo, PTNY called for an immediate review and update of the UMP.
For more than two years, Adirondack Recreational Trail Advocates have campaigned to urge the state to revisit the UMP in its efforts to develop the corridor as a recreational trail extending from Lake Placid south to Old Forge.
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NYSDEC seeks comments on Volunteer Stewardship Program
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is seeking comments on its draft policy for entering into Volunteer Stewardship Agreements with individuals, groups and organizations that wish to help preserve, maintain, and/or enhance lands and facilities under the DEC's jurisdiction. Email comments by June 21, 2013.
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2013 Erie Canalway Calendar photo contest
Calling all photographers. The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor (ECHHC) is looking for photos that capture the beauty, history, people, and distinctive character of the Corridor. Winning images will be included in the annual ECHNC calendar. Deadline for entries is September 6, 2013.
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Early bird camping
Do you love to camp and love to save money? Then jump on the $5 early summer camping special discount at state parks. Offer runs until June 30. Make reservations by phone at 1.800.456.CAMP or at http://ow.ly/lgvkv and use promo code EARLYCAMP13NY.
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St. Lawrence County unveils plans for 200-mile multi-use trail system
The St. Lawrence County Recreational Trails Advisory Board recently unveiled maps of a 200-mile St. Lawrence County Multi-Use trail system called "Blazing Trails" that will extend from Franklin to Lewis Counties. The trail will be multi-season and multi-use, and open to snowmobilers, ATV users, mountain bikers, horseback riders, hikers, cyclists, cross country skiers, dog sled users, and snowshoers. Presently 22 miles of trail are open in the Town of Parishville but other sections of trail are expected to open this summer. Read more.
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29 Elk St. Albany, NY 12207
(ph) 518-434-1583
(fax) 518-427-0067
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