All are welcome at New York State Parks and Historic Sites, but getting to our facilities isn’t always easy. People who don’t have cars, for example, are often left to navigate transportation barriers that prevent them from accessing outdoor recreation opportunities.

KeJuan Harmon is actively working to bridge the access gap for kids to discover and experience the wonders of state parks firsthand. In his role as State Parks’ Statewide Ladders to the Outdoors Coordinator, Harmon is giving back to communities in Western and Central New York. As part of the Share Your Story project for our agency’s Centennial, he describes the magic that happens when kids experience the outdoors for the first time. 

“One of the most surprising things since I started working with our State Parks is the invisible barrier of Niagara Falls, the amount of kids from within three or four miles of Niagara Falls that have never been.”

– KeJuan Harmon

New York State Parks has created several programs to address transportation and access gaps around the state, and we’re just getting started.

Schools and nonprofit organizations planning field trips to state parks and historic sites can have their costs reimbursed through our Connect Kids To The Outdoors program. This includes transportation costs as well as program, entry and pavilion fees, on-site equipment rentals such as snowshoes or kayaks, and even camping fees.  

The Ladders to the Outdoors program goes even further. Staff work closely with schools, nonprofits, and leaders in underserved communities to plan and fund outdoor experiences in state parks such as camping, hiking and fishing. The program is funded by the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation in Western New York, the Central New York Community Foundation and Gifford Foundation in Central New York, and is powered by New York State Parks and the Natural Heritage Trust. Its goal is to remove financial and structural barriers that prevent kids from experiencing outdoor recreation. Each program is tailored to the needs and interests of the group.

In the summer, the free CDTA Nature Bus brings Albany-area to a variety of outdoor destinations, including Thacher State Park. CDTA also offers regular service to Grafton Lakes. The free NFTA Adventure Bus in the Buffalo-Niagara region brings city residents to a variety of county and state parks, with special programming available when they arrive.  

Do you have a transportation story to share with us? Learn more about the Share Your Story project and submit your memories before 2024 comes to a close.

-Written by Kate Jenkins, Digital Specialist in Public Affairs‘ Albany office.