2024 Centennial Celebration, Park History, Research

A New Outdoor Aesthetic: New York’s Postwar Park Architecture 

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Many buildings and features built for New York state parks during the 1930s mimicked the natural environment. In the period after World War II, this rustic style started sharing space with more modern designs. 

One of the busiest construction periods of the New York State Parks system was during the 1950s and 1960s, when park planners were expecting to welcome record numbers of visitors. You can learn more about that history in our Blazing a Trail timeline project. But, for a deeper dive into the architecture leading up to that era, keep reading… 

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Family Fun, Hiking, Winter Activities

Get Outside and Join New York State Parks for First Day Hikes 2025! 

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For thousands of New Yorkers, First Day Hikes are a favorite way to ring in the New Year.  

This tradition is an opportunity to get active outside with friends and family while working towards your New Year’s resolutions. 2025 marks the fourteenth iteration of the event in New York State, with hikes taking place on Wednesday, January 1, 2025. 

Ringing in 2024 at Olana State Historic Site (left), Glimmerglass State Park (center), and Saratoga Springs State Park (right). Join us to ring in 2025!

More than 90 hikes will take place across New York’s public lands, at state parks, historic sites, wildlife areas, forest preserves, nature centers, and canal trails. These family-friendly hikes range from one to five miles, based on location and trail conditions. No matter your experience level or time commitment, there’s a suitable adventure to be found! 

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Family Fun, Historic Sites, Recreation, Winter Activities

Ten Winter Activities At State Parks and Historic Sites

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Centuries of holiday traditions to experience. A park that’s only open one season a year. Meteor showers overhead, tracks through the snow, and miles of trails to enjoy in a whole different way.

Winter fun is everywhere at state parks and historic sites! Below are ten activities we suggest you experience this season.

The heart of winter: the ski lodge at Fahnestock Winter Park in the Hudson Valley.

1. Visit Fahnestock Winter Park. Celebrate the spirit of winter at the only park in our system devoted exclusively to the season. At Fahnestock, you’ll discover 20 kilometers of machine-groomed cross-country ski trails, an extensive network of blazed snowshoeing trails, and sledding and tubing. Fuel up at the concession stand and unwind by the fire pit with your fellow winter lovers for the full seasonal experience! No gear? No problem! You can rent equipment for skate and classic skiing, as well as snowshoes, sledding tubes, and tow-behind baby pulks. Check conditions before you go.

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2024 Centennial Celebration

Drumroll, Please: Top Blog Posts of 2024

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The State Parks Centennial. The Great American Eclipse. The Summer of Swimming.

2024 was an incredible year at New York State Parks and Historic Sites! And it was an incredible year on our blog, too.

Here’s what you read the most in 2024:

  1. Swim Safely This Summer
  2. Happy Trails: Empire State Trail Itineraries for Spring / Summer
  3. By The Numbers: NY State Parks and Historic Sites 
  4. What To Expect With the April 8 Eclipse, According to NASA 
  5. A Look Back At The Total Solar Eclipse Of 1925

And some honorable mentions:

Thank you all for making us part of your year. We hope your time with the State Parks and Historic Sites Blog was interesting and informative.

We have a lot lined up for you in 2025, including a story about a brand-new challenge and an update on a snail found only at one of our parks. Stay tuned, enjoy the rest of 2024 and have a happy New Year! We’ll see you out there.

Flora & Fauna, Park Projects, Stewardship

With Reduced Mowing, State Parks Are Letting It Grow

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Close your eyes and picture this: You’re visiting your favorite New York state park, and as you drive along park roads or walk pathways near the visitor center, you notice tall grasses swaying in the breeze, bees and butterflies flitting between flowers, a chorus of young birds chirping in the distance, and a peaceful quiet without the hum of constant landscaping machinery.

Sound like a dream? Well, it’s become a reality! Through the ongoing implementation of the Reduced Mowing Policy—part of the New York State Pollinator Protection Plan—grow zones have become a staple at all state parks and historic sites. These zones, where native grasses and wildflowers are allowed to grow tall, continue to benefit the environment and local wildlife, proving to be more sustainable than traditional mowed areas and enhancing visitor experience in new ways. 

These signs greet visitors at many of the reduced mowing sites at our parks and historic sites in an effort to inform them of our work.
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The official blog for the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation