We’re thrilled to announce our Share Your Story project, inviting you to share your NY State Parks memories and nostalgia throughout 2024. 

Every year, tens of millions of people visit New York State Parks and Historic Sites. Whether it’s an afternoon at a nearby favorite spot, family traditions passed down from generation to generation, or a long-planned vacation, parks and sites are where memories are made. They’re also where many people experience those special “firsts” — a first time canoeing, learning about meaningful state history, ice skating, camping, and so much more.

During our Centennial year, we invite you to share those memories. The Share Your Story project is your chance to reminisce about your experiences at New York State Parks and Historic Sites with your fellow park lovers.

There are three easy ways to share: 

• Email your story, your photos, or your videos to stories@parks.ny.gov.
• Post your story on Facebook, Instagram, or X using the hashtag #NYStateParksStory.
• Submit your story of 500 words or less using our web form.

All year, we’ll post selected stories on this blog, on our social media channels, and in our ParkConnect newsletter. To help ignite your memories, we’ll also share Story Sparks in the same places. 

As you watch the video above, search your memory for your own stories. Call up your friends and family, dig out the photo albums, plug in your old hard drives, and share your story! With 100 years’ worth of them, we’ll be sharing our stories too, and we can’t wait to hear yours. And pro tip: taking part in the Share Your Story project is a Centennial Challenge mission!

– Written by Kate Jenkins and Lacey Seidman in the Albany Public Affairs bureau.