Parks & Trails New York

Parks & Trails New York is a statewide nonprofit advocacy organization dedicated to expanding, protecting, and promoting a network of parks, trails, and open spaces across New York. Founded in 1985, it works through a combination of policy advocacy, on-the-ground program implementation, and coalition building to enhance public access to recreational opportunities and natural areas. The organization is a leading voice for the state park system, the Empire State Trail, and hundreds of local trails, partnering with state agencies, municipalities, and other conservation groups.

History

The organization was established in 1985, emerging from a growing conservation and recreational trails movement within the state. Its early work focused on advocating for the protection and completion of long-distance trails like the Erie Canalway Trail. A significant early achievement was its instrumental role in the creation and 2017 announcement of the Empire State Trail by former Governor Andrew Cuomo, a project to create a 750-mile continuous recreational trail from New York City to the Canadian border and from Albany to Buffalo. Over the decades, it has consistently lobbied the New York State Legislature and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation for increased funding and supportive policies, helping to secure landmark investments like the Environmental Protection Fund and the New York Works program.

Programs and initiatives

Key programs include the award-winning **Cycle the Erie Canal** event, an annual eight-day bicycle tour along the historic Erie Canal that promotes ecotourism and trail awareness. The **Tour de New York** series offers shorter, regional cycling events. Its **Greenway Grants Program** has provided critical seed funding to hundreds of local trail projects and park improvements across the state. The organization also conducts extensive **educational outreach** and **volunteer training**, including workshops on trail stewardship and advocacy skills, often in collaboration with local parks departments and groups like the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference.

Park and trail network

The organization advocates for and supports a vast network that includes the entire New York State Park System, encompassing iconic destinations like Niagara Falls State Park, Jones Beach State Park, and the Adirondack Park. It is a chief proponent and steward of the 750-mile Empire State Trail, which incorporates the Hudson River Valley Greenway, the Champlain Canalway Trail, and the Erie Canalway Trail. Its work also extends to regional trails such as the Genesee Valley Greenway, the Harlem Valley Rail Trail, and segments of the Long Path, as well as countless municipal parks and greenways developed through its grant programs.

Advocacy and policy work

Core advocacy efforts focus on securing robust and reliable operational and capital funding for the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The organization mobilizes public support for the Environmental Protection Fund, which provides grants for land acquisition and park infrastructure. It actively campaigns for **Complete Streets** policies, trail connectivity, and climate-resilient park design. It regularly testifies before the New York State Legislature and publishes influential reports, such as the *"Parks at a Turning Point"* series, which analyzes the needs and economic impact of the state park system.

Funding and partnerships

Operations are funded through a mix of grants, membership dues, corporate sponsorships, and revenue from events like **Cycle the Erie Canal**. Major public funding partners have included the New York State Department of State and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. The organization maintains critical partnerships with agencies like the New York State Canal Corporation and the Hudson River Valley Greenway. It also works closely with a broad coalition of organizations, including the Open Space Institute, the Trust for Public Land, Environmental Advocates NY, and local friends of parks groups across the state to advance shared conservation and recreation goals.

Category:Non-profit organizations based in New York (state) Category:Parks in New York (state) Category:Trail organizations in the United States Category:Organizations established in 1985