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Governor
Cuomo Encourages New Yorkers to Sign Up
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for
the Seventh Annual “I Love My Park” Day
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Online Registration
for May 5 Volunteer Day Now Open
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Albany,
NY – March 2018 / Newsmaker Alert / Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announces
that registration
is now open for the seventh annual I
Love My Park Day, to be held on May 5, 2018 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 and Parks
& Trails New York, 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.
“Our
state parks are natural treasures that offer extraordinary outdoor recreational
opportunities, attract tourists who support local economies and draw people
together,” Governor Cuomo said. “I encourage New Yorkers to participate
in I Love My Park Day to enjoy all our parks have to offer and help us
to protect and preserve our system for generations to come.”
Volunteers
will have the opportunity to participate in clean up events at more than
120 state parks, historic sites and public lands from Jones Beach State
Park to Niagara Falls State Park and covering all regions in between, including
sites operated by the Department of Environmental Conservation, the National
Park Service and municipal parks. Registration for I Love My Park Day can
be completed by visiting www.ptny.org/events/i-love-my-park-day.
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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. The New
York State Commission on Volunteer and Community Service is joining
the effort again this year to help recruit volunteers, promote the initiative
and provide support to projects across the state. Members of the New York
State Excelsior Conservation Corps, a New York State AmeriCorps program
run by the Student Conservation Association, will help State Parks organize
and implement I Love My Park Day projects.
State
Parks Commissioner Rose Harvey said, “Volunteers are vital partners in
making our park system the very best it can be. I look forward to joining
with Parks & Trails New York to welcome thousands of volunteers for
our seventh I Love My Park Day, so we can all work together in a positive
way to improve our communities and our state.”
Parks
& Trails New York Executive Director Robin Dropkin said, “The renaissance
of New York’s State Park System, thanks to Governor Cuomo’s historic reinvestment,
is a joy to behold, as is the demonstration of support for parks by friends,
volunteers and partners on the annual I Love My Park Day. This year, on
the seventh anniversary of the event, we’re excited to include state parks
and historic sites, public lands and campgrounds managed by NYS DEC, and
National Park sites across the state. Now, there are even more opportunities
to give back to treasured outdoor places in every region of the state.”
DEC
Commissioner Basil Seggos said, “New York State is home to some of the
most spectacular state parks, historic sites, and public lands in the world.
Whether you’re introducing a small child to the wonders of nature for the
first time, or enjoying a peaceful walk with a grandparent, our State’s
magnificent parks system has something to offer outdoor enthusiasts of
all ages. DEC is a proud partner of I Love My Park Day and I encourage
everyone to consider volunteering at an I Love My Park Day event near you
to help promote, protect and preserve your favorite park.”
I Love
My Park Day complements Governor Cuomo’s effort to revitalize and transform
the state park system. The Governor’s NY Parks 2020 program is a multi-year
commitment to leverage $900 million in private and public funding for State
Parks from 2011 to 2020. The 2018-19 Executive Budget commits $90 million
toward this initiative.
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The
New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees
more than 250 parks, historic sites, recreational trails, golf courses,
boat launches and more, which are visited by 71 million people annually.
A recent study found that New York State Parks generates $5 billion in
park and visitor spending, which supports nearly 54,000 jobs. For more
information on any of these recreation areas, call 518-474-0456 or visit
www.parks.ny.gov,
connect with us on Facebook,
or follow on Instagram
and
Twitter.
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Contact:
Press
Office
518-474-8418
Press.Office@exec.ny.gov |
