Flora & Fauna, Historic Sites, Recreation

Signs of Spring at State Parks and Historic Sites

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Longer days. Warmer temperatures. More birdsong. The signs of spring have been growing stronger in New York for weeks, and now the season has arrived. We’re proud to share some of the delights of spring with you at our parks and historic sites — here’s hoping we’ll see you out there.

Springing from the Earth

Getting out on the trail in the springtime is an exhilarating experience, as wildflowers begin to bloom, trees return to leaf, and the smells of nature fully return. If you enjoy identifying the plants, insects and animals you see on the trail, consider joining the global nonprofit iNaturalist project. You can use their app to identify flora and fauna you find, record your sightings, or find out from other users what’s been sighted nearby. Below are a few plants to look out for!

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2024 Centennial Celebration, Cool Science, Family Fun, history

A Look Back At The Total Solar Eclipse Of 1925

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Many of us remember the last total solar eclipse in the United States, known as the Great American Eclipse in August 2017. The news coverage talked of the path of totality which travelled from coast to coast, starting in Oregon and arcing south across the country through South Carolina. Those who remained here in New York were treated to a view of between 59-75 percent obscuration (covering) of the sun as the moon passed between the sun and Earth. While it was definitely a national event, New York didn’t get the front-row seats that being in an eclipse’s path of totality provides.

Path of 2017 eclipse, courtesy of Wikicommons.

Thankfully, many New Yorkers will soon have the opportunity to see this celestial wonder for themselves from their own backyards or local parks. On April 8, 2024, another total solar eclipse will pass from Mexico through parts of 14 different states and into Canada. This time, New York is in the eclipse’s path.

The 2024 eclipse path in New York State, courtesy of I Love NY. To drill down on the path of totality for April 8, visit our interactive map.

Some people have been looking forward to the 2024 total solar eclipse for years, some for decades! But all of this anticipation has some of us looking backwards to the last total solar eclipse that passed through the skies of New York State in 1925.

Path of 1925 total solar Eclipse, Butler Papers, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institute.
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2024 Centennial Celebration, Park History, State History

Blazing a Trail Through History with Our Interactive Timeline

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Commemorating a century of New York State Parks, we are proud to announce an interactive timeline detailing our agency’s history:  Blazing a Trail: A History of NY State Parks and Historic Sites. 

A stereographic photograph taken at the Prospect Point observation area of Niagara Falls. There are multiple people who are standing in front of the falls, posing for the camera.
A stereographic photograph taken at the Prospect Point observation area of Niagara Falls. Image courtesy of the New York Public Library.

Beginning with the acquisition of Washington’s Headquarters in 1850, Blazing a Trail delves into more than 170 years of stories and milestone moments, divided into eight chronological eras. The timeline experience, showcased in a modern and mobile-friendly way, introduces important figures in the State Parks’ history and examines the social and political context of each era of our park and historic site system’s development. With our Centennial celebration already in full swing, additional eras will be launching throughout 2024, reminding New Yorkers that New York’s state parks are truly made for them.  

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2024 Centennial Celebration, Park Personnel, Share Your Story, Transportation

Share Your Story: KeJuan Harmon Talks ‘Ladders to the Outdoors’ Program

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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.

A group of adults and children experience the Maid Of The Mist at Niagara Falls through the Ladders to the Outdoors program.

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

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2024 Centennial Celebration, Family Fun, Recreation

Building An Inclusive Park System For All Abilities

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New York State Parks is dedicated to making sure that visitors of all abilities can enjoy our parks and historic sites. In 2023, a record 84.1 million visitors came to our properties, so it is more vital than ever to ensure that all who visit have a safe and fun experience!  

“Every individual has a different set of abilities, a different set of strengths, and a wealth of experience and wisdom that comes with them. 

As in ecological communities, our social communities and lives are enriched by having a diverse array of problem solvers, friends, and loved ones. 

We at Rockefeller [State Park] are excited to welcome people who have traditionally been excluded from outdoor spaces, knowing that the more perspectives and voices are on our public land, the closer we are to cultivating sustainable relationships to our natural world and to one another.” 

-Devyani Mishra, Conservation Steward at Rockefeller State Park Preserve 

A wheelchair user plays the metallophone on The Autism Nature Trail at Letchworth State Park. 
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The official blog for the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation