Albany, NY - May 1, 2013 - Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today reminded New Yorkers to volunteer at their favorite state park or historic site as part of the second annual “I Love My Park Day” that will be held this Saturday, May 4, 2013. Volunteers who would like to support clean-up and beautification efforts at sites across the state, including areas that sustained much damage from Superstorm Sandy, can register at http://www.ptny.org/ilovemypark/.

At a cabinet meeting in Albany today, Governor Cuomo urged New Yorkers and members of his cabinet to sign up to participate in the second annual I Love My Park Day: "New York's park system is a treasured jewel for our state, and I encourage New Yorkers to get involved this Saturday and help beautify and maintain a park in their community."

 

I Love My Park Day By the Numbers:
 

Strong First Year: 2012

• 40 participating parks and historic sites
• 2,000 volunteers, 70% new to state park volunteering
• 6,000 volunteer hours contributed

Growing in Year Two: 2013

• 77 participating parks and historic sites
• 1,000 volunteers pre-registered, over 4,000 anticipated
• New partnership with NYS Commission on National & Community Service
• Major new media and corporate sponsors

2013 Participating Parks and Historic Sites:
 

Capital District / Saratoga 
Crown Point State Historic Site
Grafton Lakes State Park 
Grant Cottage State Historic Site
John Boyd Thacher and Thompson's Lake State Parks
Johnson Hall State Historic Site
Mine Kill and Max V. Shaul State Parks
Moreau Lake State Park
Peebles Island State Park
Saratoga Spa State Park
Schodack Island State Park

 

Central New York
Bowman Lake State Park
Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum
Clark Reservation State Park 
Fort Ontario State Historic Site
Glimmerglass State Park
Green Lakes State Park
Herkimer Home State Historic Site
Lorenzo State Historic Site

 

Finger Lakes 
Catharine Valley Trail 
Darien Lakes State Park
Fair Haven Beach State Park
Ganondagan State Historic Site 
Genesee Valley Greenway
Hamlin Beach State Park
Ithaca Dog Park at the Allan H. Treman Marine State Park
Letchworth State Park
Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion State Historic Park

 

Hudson Valley
Bannerman Island 
Fahnestock State Park (Clarence Fahnestock)
Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park
Harlem Valley Rail Trail (at Taconic State Park) 
Harriman State Park - (Silvermine Picnic Area)
Hudson Highlands State Park
Minnewaska State Park Preserve
Old Croton Aqueduct State Historic Park
Rockefeller State Park Preserve
Rockland Lake State Park (including Hook Mountain and Nyack Beach)
Staatsburgh State Historic Site
Taconic State Park 
Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park 
Washington's Headquarters State Historic Site

 

Long Island 
Bayard Cutting Arboretum State Park 
Bethpage State Park
Caleb Smith State Park Preserve
Connetquot River State Park Preserve
Heckscher State Park
Hempstead Lake State Park
Jones Beach State Park
Montauk Point State Park
Nissequogue River State Park
Robert Moses State Park 
Sunken Meadow State Park (Alfred E. Smith)
Walt Whitman Birthplace State Historic Site

 

New York City 
Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve
East River State Park 
FDR Four Freedoms Park
Gantry Plaza State Park
Riverbank State Park
Roberto Clemente State Park

 

Thousand Islands Region
Cedar Point State Park 
Grass Point State Park 
Higley Flow State Park
Point au Roche State Park
Wellesley Island State Park

 

Western NY 
Allegany State Park 
Artpark State Park (Earl W. Brydges) 
DeVeaux Woods State Park
Evangola State Park
Golden Hill State Park
Knox Farm State Park
Midway State Park
Wilson-Tuscarora State Park

 

Local Parks

In addition to the events at state parks listed above, local parks are getting in the spirit too! I Love My Park Day events are being held at these locally owned parks and historic sites. To learn more about these, visit the links below:

• Buffalo Olmstead Parks
• Douglas Park,Village of Sleepy Hollow, Westchester County
• Edith G Read Wildlife Sanctuary, Rye, Westchester County (10 AM - 2 PM; meet at the nature center at the end of the sanctuary road)
• Glenville Woods Park Preserve, Greenburgh, hosted by Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics
• Homer Folks Forest, Oneonta, NY (organized by Oneonta State Mountain Biking Club, SUNY Oneonta); RSVP online or by email
• Mt Hope Reservoir, Oneida, NY - hosted by the City of Oneida Parks & Recreation Department
• Stiglmeier Park Clean-Up - Town of Cheektowaga, Erie County (organized by VolunteerWNY and the Town of Cheektowaga); Please sign-up at www.VolunteerWNY.org.
• Taylor's Island, and its Smith-Taylor Cabin (Town of Shelter Island)
• Town of Yorktown, including Granite Knolls Park
• Union Park, City of Hornell
• Utica Parks and Parkway System, including Valley View/Roscoe Conkling Park and the Memorial Parkway (organized by the Central New York Conservancy, Inc.)
• Village of Hammondsport parks and Canacadea State Forest Trails (organized by 2-1-1 HELPLINE Give Help and the Institute for Human Services). Please register by
  contacting Tess McKinley.

Fast Facts about NYS Parks:

• New York State Parks system includes 179 Parks and 35 Historic Sites
• 2nd most visited state park system in nation
• 2012 was a record year for visits, attracting 60 million visitors
• Economic impact: State park visits generate $1.9 billion in economic activity annually
  • 100 private concession contracts
  • Outdoor recreation generates $33.8 billion in consumer spending statewide
  • Saltwater fishing generates $2 billion in economic activity
  • Recreational boating accounts for 18,700 jobs
  • Snowmobiling delivers $868 million annually in economic impact

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For More Information, Please Contact:
Governor's Press Office
NYC Press Office: 212-681-4640
Albany Press Office: 518-474-8418
Press.Office@exec.ny.gov