Parks & Trails New York Accepting Applications for $500,000 in Grants to Improve State Parks, Trails, Historic Sites and Public Lands.
Parks & Trails New York (PTNY) and the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP), with support from Governor Cuomo and the NYS Legislature, are pleased to announce the third round of $500,000 in competitive grants through the NYS Park and Trail Partnership Program funded through the NYS Environmental Protection Fund. The grants are available to organizations that support parks, trails, historic sites and public lands, and are administered by PTNY, in partnership with OPRHP.
The program is designed to:
- enhance the preservation, stewardship, interpretation, environmental education, maintenance and promotion of New York State parks, trails, historic sites, and public lands;
- increase the sustainability, effectiveness, productivity, volunteerism and fundraising capabilities of not-for-profit organizations that promote, maintain and support NYS parks, trails, historic sites and public lands; and
- promote the tourism and economic development benefits of outdoor recreation through the growth and expansion of a connected statewide network of parks, trails, greenways, and public lands.
“It’s inspiring to see the transformational effect of the Park and Trail Partnership Program grants and how they are enhancing the ability of Friends groups to make an even greater contribution to the stewardship of New York’s great outdoor spaces,” said PTNY Executive Director Robin Dropkin.
“State Park Friends Groups and volunteers are crucial to making our state park system a success. This grant program taps their skills and commitment to improve parks, historic sites and trails across New York,” State Parks Commissioner Rose Harvey said.
This year, for the first time, grants will also be available to organizations that support public lands managed by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).
DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said, “Through Governor Cuomo’s leadership and historic investments in the Environmental Protection Fund, New York is making great strides to improve and expand access for outdoor recreation in the state. As DEC manages the most public recreation land in the state, we are proud to be a part of this year’s NYS Park and Trail Partnership Program. These grants will help our partner organizations improve stewardship of trails and parks across the state while advancing conservation activities and enhancing outdoor recreation opportunities.”
Applications are due December 8, 2017. Grant awards are expected to be announced in March 2018. The Park and Trail Partnership Program is open to organizations whose primary mission is the preservation, stewardship, interpretation, environmental education, maintenance and promotion of a specific New York State park, trail, historic site or public land under the jurisdiction of OPRHP or DEC. More information about the grant program and its timeline are available at http://ptny.org/our-work/support/park-trail-partnership-program.
The Park and Trail Partnership Program, in addition to other grassroots efforts, complements Governor Cuomo’s commitment to revitalizing and transforming the State park system through his NY Parks 2020 plan, and connecting New York families and visitors to nature and outdoor recreation through his Adventure NY program.
In May 2017, Governor Cuomo announced the second round of Park and Trail Partnership Program awardees which disbursed $450,000 in grant funds among 20 organizations. The grants were matched by more than $200,000 in private and local funding.
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.
