The Beat

Free Admission for Veterans and Active Service People

Monday, May 30, Memorial Day, at 1:00 PM

Staatsburg, N.Y. (5/19/22) —  To commemorate Memorial Day, Staatsburgh State Historic Site will present its special theme tour of the mansion, “World War I and the End of the Gilded Age” on Monday, May 30, at 1:00pm.  Reservations are required: www.bookeo.com/StaatsburghSHS. The cost is $10; $8 for students and seniors; children 12 and under are free.

All are welcome to join this tour. To honor those who serve, or who have served, in the United States military, The Friends of Mills at Staatsburgh, the community-led support group of Staatsburgh State Historic Site, will offer free admission to this special tour for veterans, active-duty service people, people in the reserves, and their immediate family members:…

Cooperstown, NY – Hyde Hall and Glimmerglass State Park open for the 2022 season on Saturday, May 28th with a new community celebration, the Hyde Hall and Glimmerglass State Park Block Party. The event marks the start of our area’s summer season and offers opportunities for the whole family from 10 AM - 3 PM. Twenty local organizations will participate with activities, animals, crafts, free programs, nature walks, and music around Hyde Hall’s campus and around Glimmerglass State Park.

George Washington: Perspectives on His Life and Legacy Offers Picture of Revolutionary War General and First President

Newburgh, N.Y. -- The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and the Palisades Interstate Park Commission today announced the opening of a new, nearly completely digital exhibit at George Washington’s Headquarters State Historic Site in Newburgh. The exhibit, George Washington: Perspectives on His Life and Legacy, is the state park system’s first exhibit that is completely available in Spanish and English, and the first installed as part of the Our Whole History initiative to bring forward the under-told stories of all the people who lived at State Historic Sites.

Staatsburg, N.Y.  (4/18/22) —  Staatsburgh State Historic Site will host volunteers for another annual spring day of volunteerism at as part of more than 100 cleanup, improvement and beautification events happening statewide on Saturday, May 7.

I Love My Park Day is an exciting statewide event to improve and enhance New York’s state parks and historic sites and bring visibility to the entire state park system and its needs. Volunteers from across the state will participate in cleanup, improvement, and beautification events at New York State parks and historic sites. Volunteers will celebrate New York’s state park system by cleaning up park lands and beaches, planting trees and gardens, restoring trails and wildlife habitat, removing invasive species, and working on site improvement projects.

Trout Stocking Events Planned throughout Long Island in March and April

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks) will hold the annual Spring Family Fishing Festival on Saturday, April 2, at Belmont Lake State Park. Additional sponsors for the fishing festival include the Natural Heritage Trust, The Fisherman Magazine, New York Life, Seaford Knights of Columbus Fishing Club, Art Flick Chapter Trout Unlimited, and radio stations 106.1 WBLI and 102.3 WBAB.

Katonah, NY (March 8, 2022) - John Jay Homestead State Historic Site is excited to offer a fun and educational preschool class this spring.

Join us for Little Explorers!  This program, for kids ages 3-5 and their caregivers, is designed to get little learners excited about the environment.  Each week we will explore a different part of the property at John Jay Homestead and complete a take-home activity while learning and having fun.  After the class, the Red Barn Discovery Center will be open for imaginative play until 3pm.

This eight-week series runs on Tuesdays from May 3^rd -June 21^st from 1pm-2pm. …

Acquisitions Will Add Buffers and Protect Natural Habitat Near Hudson Valley Parkland

Properties Will Enhance Access and Trail Network for Popular Hudson Highlands, Schunnemunk and Fahnestock State Park

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the addition of nearly 1,200 acres to three state parks in the Hudson Valley, expanding New York State's protection of open space and ensuring the conservation of significant blocks of contiguous forest land. The new parkland includes 946 acres at Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve in Dutchess and Putnam Counties; 179 acres at Schunnemunk State Park in Orange County; and a 33-acre property that will provide better access to the adjacent Appalachian Trail and nearby Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park in Putnam County.

Dedicated To 19th Century African American Hudson Valley Native, Abolitionist and Suffragist 

$13.5 Million Acquisition of Former Cement Production Plant Along More than Mile of Hudson River Shoreline in Kingston and Town of Ulster 

State Parks, PIPC Will Partner with Scenic Hudson to Operate New Park 

Photos Available Here 

In recognition of Black History Month and Women's History Month, Governor Kathy Hochul announced today a new State Park planned for more than 500 acres of former industrial property along the Hudson River shoreline in Ulster County will be named for 19th century African American abolitionist and suffragist Sojourner Truth. This will be the first State Park in the City of Kingston and the first new State Park to open since July 2019. …

Statewide Attendance Climbs More Than 427,000, Niagara Falls Leads the Way

Governor's Executive Budget Includes $200 Million for State Park Upgrades to Welcome Surging Visitation

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that New York's State parks, historic sites, campgrounds, and trails welcomed a record-setting 78.4 million visits in 2021, continuing the robust level of visitation seen since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Events, Places, Programs and Virtual Content Features African American Impacts on State History

Governor Kathy Hochul invites New Yorkers to help celebrate African American contributions to state history during Black History Month through events, online programming and visits to State Parks and historic sites.

"New York State is home to incredible cultural heritage for Black History Month, and our parks and historic sites give us a chance to reflect on the invaluable contributions made by the African American community as well as the struggles and challenges that many still experience today," Governor Hochul said. "As we celebrate Black History Month, it's up to each of us to do everything in our power to build a better, more just society. Divided, we falter alone - but united, we rise together."…