Tag Archives: 2024 Centennial Celebration

2024 Centennial Celebration, Family Fun, Fun & Games, Visitor Gratitude

We’ll See You Out There… at the State Fair! 

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It wouldn’t be the end of the summer season without a trip to The Great New York State Fair! From live concerts and a trip on a ferris wheel, to twenty-five cent milk at the Dairy Barn and the sand sculpture, the State Fair is full of family-friendly experiences. And this year will be extra special for State Parks! 

Did you know that New York’s smallest state park can be found within the State Fair? It’s true! You can find the State Park at the Fair right behind Chevy Court on Niagara Street, where we have a Visitor Center, gift shop, mini-golf course, reflecting pool, and many unique attractions that give you a taste for all we do at State Parks. You’ll have the opportunity to meet environmental educators, costumed historical interpreters, State Park Police and Park Rangers, as well as learn about marine safety, snowmobiling, and the popular Hawke Creek Rehabilitation Center Birds of Prey show. But that’s not all.

In honor of our Centennial, we’re commemorating Thursday, August 22 as State Parks Day at the Fair by waiving admission for fairgoers who present one of the following passes at the entrance that day: Empire Pass, Access Pass, Lifetime Liberty Pass, and Golden Park Program (people 65 years old and older are admitted free every day of the Fair). We’ll also have a staff videographer on-hand that day to help film your stories for the Share Your Story project that you can learn more about below!

Can’t make it for State Parks Day? Here’s a quick peek at how you can celebrate with us from Wednesday, August 21 through Monday, September 2. 

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2024 Centennial Celebration, Share Your Story

Your Unforgettable Moments At State Parks

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Memories need a sense of place, and for a century, New Yorkers have discovered it at a New York State park or historic site. With more than 250 parks, each as diverse and beautiful as the memories they host, it’s no wonder so many people hold moments at a state park dear. Whether they’re milestones like a wedding or graduation, or a simple annual family tradition, the parks have been backdrops to the scenes of the lives of millions for 100 years.

There are more memories in our parks than pine needles on trees in Moreau Lake State Park and grains of sand on Jones Beach. It’s our privilege to share with you three of these precious memories.

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2024 Centennial Celebration, Park History, State History

Celebrating 100 Years of NY State Parks and Historic Sites 

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Happy birthday to us! The New York State parks and historic sites system is now 100 years old, and we celebrated our founding and lit up almost two dozen landmarks around the state in Parks green and Centennial gold to mark the day last week.

Although several of our parks and historic sites have existed for more than 100 years—Washington’s Headquarters State Historic Site and Niagara Falls State Park, for example—it was on April 18, 1924, that the State Council of Parks (SCOP) was formed, creating our modern parks system.

A Centennial birthday cake at the newly opened Robert H. Treman exhibit reception in Ithaca.

Established by Governor Alfred E. Smith and the New York State Legislature in 1924, SCOP and subsequent voter support for a $15 million Bond Act placed the future of many of New York’s public lands in our hands. Alongside great partners, staff at our agency have served as stewards since then, preserving New York’s most treasured lands and historically significant places. Today our system spans over 250 properties in every part of the state, improving the lives of millions of New Yorkers and connecting communities to the outdoors.

Learn more about the history of NY State Parks and Historic Sites with our interactive timeline, “Blazing a Trail.”

Missed our birthday? No problem. We created a video recap documenting the events of the day. You can find this video, along with other Centennial content, on our YouTube channel. Be sure to subscribe if you haven’t already, as we’ll be adding even more announcement videos into this digital goody bag as the year goes on!

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2024 Centennial Celebration, history, Recreation, Share Your Story

“Share Your Story” Project Welcomes 100 Years of Memories

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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.

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2024 Centennial Celebration, Historic Sites, Park History, Recreation, State History

Behind The Scenes of Commissioner Kulleseid’s Barnstorming Centennial Launch Tour

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In 2024, New York State Parks and Historic Sites will celebrate our Centennial, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the founding of our parks and sites system. While we have incredible public properties older than the 100-year-old system, the Centennial celebrates the vital legislation that allowed us to build and expand our network of parks and sites, forging the system we know and love today. 

As OPRHP Commissioner, I am reminded every day of the immense pride and enjoyment New Yorkers take in our facilities. To prepare New York State residents and visitors from around the world for the exciting year ahead, I recently embarked on a two-day journey to showcase the breadth of our parks and sites system, highlighting various activities and partnerships that make our system so unique.  

Watch: OPRHP Centennial Launch Tour Recap Video

During the launch tour, a small group of staff and I made ten stops – at Olana State Historic Site, Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park, Harriman State Park, Jones Beach State Park, Old Fort Niagara State Historic Site, Niagara Falls State Park, Ganondagan State Historic Site, Green Lakes State Park and Saratoga Spa State Park – where I enjoyed biking, ziplining, firing a cannon, swimming with lifeguards, kayaking, lighting Niagara Falls for its evening illumination, and more! I was also pleased to have special guests join us all along the way at tour-stop events, and to have the chance to connect with many of our amazing staff members and supporters as well. 

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