The Beat

From July 3 through Labor Day, 542,661 People Visited State Park Pools – A 143,639 Increase from 2023

Ahead of 4th of July Weekend, Governor Hochul Removed Swimming Pool Entry Fees at State Parks For Entire Summer

Announcement Comes on the Heels of Historic $150 Million Investment to Fund Dozens of Pool Projects in Underserved Communities Across the State

General Swimming Hours Continue at Select State Parks

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced New York State Park pool attendance increased by nearly 36 percent this summer after making State Park pool access free as a part of her “Get Offline, Get Outside” campaign and New York Statewide Investment in More Swimming (NY SWIMS) initiative. Overall, State Park attendance also increased by nearly 2.5 percent over the summer season. The Governor launched the “Get Offline, Get Outside” initiative to promote physical and mental health by helping New York’s kids and families to put down their devices, take a break from social media, and enjoy recreation and outdoor social gatherings.

Project To Extend Walkway From Gorge to Prospect Point

Part of Governor Hochul's Summer Campaign to Help Kids and Families "Get Offline, Get Outside"

Renderings Available Here

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced construction is set to begin on the extension of the ‘Crow’s Nest’ at Niagara Falls State Park. The expansion project includes the construction of new stairs and an overlook structure which will connect the existing ‘Crow’s Nest’ feature to Prospect Point at Niagara Falls State Park, providing a new close-up view of the Falls. Today's announcement builds on Governor Hochul's summer campaign to help kids and families “Get Offline, Get Outside.”…

Long Island State Parks: A History from Jones Beach to Montauk

Charleston, SC—Arcadia Publishing is pleased to announce the publication of Long Island State Parks: A History from Jones Beach to Montauk, a new history of the area by author Kristen Matejka.

About the Book

Each year, tens of millions of people visit Long Island’s state parks. Most visitors are unaware that each one of the state parks has its own fascinating chapter in the region’s storied history.

Staatsburg, N.Y.  (8/12/24) — A celebrity murder, heiresses for sale, and scandals that reached as high as the King of England and the President of the United States. All these – and more scandals at the turn of the 20^th-century – are the focus of Staatsburgh State Historic Site’s popular “Gilded Age Scandals” theme-tour returning this September.

Festival Celebrates Saratoga as an international destination for health and wellness

Representatives of the spa towns of Europe set to honor historic park

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation today announced the International Spa Heritage Festival will be held at Saratoga Spa State Park October 9-10. This festival, part of the Centennial Celebration for the 100-year anniversary of the New York State Park System, will celebrate the spa heritage of the park and city and aim to position them as a premier health and wellness destination. The event will be open to the public and feature a conference with guest speakers, a community festival, and an international health and wellness travel expo.

New Bathhouse, Playground, and Lifeguard Station Now Open at Stony Brook State Park

Start of Construction on $6.4 Million in Improvements, Scheduled for Completion in 2025

Upgrades Build on Governor Hochul’s Get Offline, Get Outside Summer Campaign and NY SWIMS Initiative

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced completion of $4.5 million in improvements for public swimming facilities at Stony Brook State Park in Steuben County. Governor Hochul also announced the start of construction of a further $6.4 million in improvements, which include a new park office, new and resurfaced parking lots, and updated tennis courts, which are scheduled for completion in 2025.

Letchworth State Park to Honor the New York State Parks Centennial by Hosting a Family-Friendly, Day-Long Event on Saturday, July 20 

Event Supports the Governor's Summer Campaign to Help Kids and Families "Get Offline, Get Outside"   

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) is thrilled to invite the public to the New York State Parks Legacy Celebration at Letchworth State Park on Saturday, July 20, 2024 in Castile, NY. The theme of the program is “Inherit the Legacy” and will take place at multiple locations in the park from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Preserve at Moreau Lake State Park Offers 860 Acres of Diverse Wildlife Habitats and New Trails for New Yorkers to Enjoy Hiking, Equestrian Riding, and Other Outdoor Recreation

Part of Governor Hochul’s “Get Offline, Get Outside” Summer Campaign

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the opening of the Big Bend Preserve at Moreau Lake State Park for public visitation. The preserve adds 860 acres to Moreau Lake State Park – roughly the size of Central Park in New York City – and makes Moreau Lake one of the ten largest parks in the state park system. The preserve will provide both recreational activities for visitors and valuable habitats for native species. The opening builds on Governor Hochul’s “Get Offline, Get Outside” summer campaign to promote physical and mental health by helping New York’s kids and families to put down their phones and computers, take a break from social media, and enjoy recreation and outdoor social gatherings.

After Governor Hochul Announced Free State Park Pool Access This Summer, Pool Attendance Spiked by Over 65 Percent July 4 Weekend

Overall State Park Attendance Increased by 30 Percent to 2.8 Million Visitors

83,741 People Visited State Park Pools Across New York July 4 Through July 7 – a 33,219 Increase Compared to 2023

Part of the Governor’s Summer Campaign to Help Kids and Families “Get Offline, Get Outside”

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced New York State Park pool attendance increased by over 65 percent between July 4 – July 7 after the Governor made State Park pool access free all summer as a part of her “Get Offline, Get Outside” campaign. Overall State Park attendance also increased by 30 percent over the holiday weekend, from 2.2 million visitors in 2023 to 2.8 million this year.

“Black Staatsburg”

Staatsburg, N.Y.  (7/8/24) — DeWitt the soldier. Helen the activist. Robert the freedom-seeker. Ivy the immigrant. What did the Gilded Age mean to these, and other, Black citizens of the Staatsburg village, beyond the walls of the Mills estate, Staatsburgh?

Join Staatsburgh State Historic Site staff for “Black Staatsburg: The Gilded Age Black Community of Staatsburg” on Sundays, July 28 & August 11 at 2:00pm.