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Albany,
NY – April 2021 / Newsmaker Alert / Governor
Andrew M. Cuomo has announced that registration is now open for the 10th
annual I Love My Park Day, which will be held over the weekend of May 1
and May 2, 2021 at state parks, historic sites and public lands across
New York. The event, sponsored by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation
and Historic Preservation, Parks & Trails New York and the Department
of Environmental Conservation, is a statewide event to enhance parks, historic
sites and public lands and raise awareness and visibility to the state
outdoor recreation assets and their needs.
“More
people than ever before are enjoying the beautiful and natural treasures
New York State has to offer,” Governor Cuomo said. “I Love My Park Day
is a great opportunity to give back to our incredible park system, and
I encourage New Yorkers to
sign up and volunteer at a participating park or historic site in their
area to ensure future generations can continue to enjoy these amazing
resources.”
Volunteers
will have the opportunity to participate in cleanup events at 120 state
parks, historic sites and public lands from Long Island to Western New
York and covering all regions in between, including sites operated by the
Department of Environmental Conservation and municipal parks. Registration
for I Love My Park Day can be completed
here.
Volunteers
will celebrate New York’s public lands by cleaning up debris, planting
trees and gardens, restoring trails and wildlife habitats, removing invasive
species and working on various site improvement projects. Due to COVID-19,
registration will be capped at 50 people per site per day to create a safe
and enjoyable experience for all volunteers. All projects will adhere to
the proper requirements for social distancing and face coverings.
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State
Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid said, “State parks provided a necessary
escape for people to safely recreate and explore the outdoors during the
height of the pandemic. This year, we look forward to celebrating the stewardship
of I Love My Park Day by welcoming volunteers whose efforts continue to
make our state park system the very best in the nation and incredibly vital
to our local communities. I’d like to thank our partners at Parks &
Trails New York for continuing to organize this event for 10 years and
expanding opportunities for the public to give back.”
Department
of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos said, “I Love My
Park Day is the largest single-day volunteer event in New York State, providing
opportunities for environmental stewards to help clean up, restore, and
enhance the State’s parks, historic sites, and public lands. During the
State’s ongoing response to the pandemic, more New Yorkers than ever before
are venturing outdoors in search of recreation and I encourage them to
consider giving back to our environment by registering to participate in
preserving and improving these very special places and remembering to take
care of public lands all year long.”
Parks
& Trails New York Executive Director Robin Dropkin said, “Parks and
green space are always important but never has that been more apparent
than during this pandemic year. New Yorkers turned to parks in droves for
recreation, respite and a safe place to spend time with family and friends.
Now they have a chance to give back to the places that have sustained them
over the last 12 months. We’re so happy to be able to celebrate the 10th
anniversary of I Love My Park Day.”
Parks
& Trails New York is New York’s leading statewide advocate for parks
and trails, dedicated since 1985 to improving our health, economy, and
quality of life through the use and enjoyment of green space for all. With
thousands of members and supporters across the state, PTNY is a leading
voice in the protection of New York’s magnificent state park system and
the creation and promotion of more than 1,500 miles of greenways, bike
paths, river walks, and trails. More information can be found
here.
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New
York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
oversees more than 250 individual parks, historic sites, recreational trails
and boat launches, which were visited by a record 77 million people in
2019. A recent university study found that spending by State Parks and
its visitors supports $5 billion in output and sales, 54,000 private-sector
jobs and more than $2.8 billion in additional state GDP. For more information
on any of these recreation areas, call 518-474-0456 or visit NYS
Parks website, connect with us on Facebook,
or follow on Instagram
and Twitter. The free New
York State Parks Explorer mobile app is available for iOS and Android devices.
To download, visit: Google
Play Store, NY State Parks Explorer App or Apple
Store, NY State Parks Explorer App.
Source
Document
Media:
Albany:
518-474-8418
New
York City: 212-681-4640
Press.Office@exec.ny.gov |