Have you been waiting all year for winter? Those who struggle with the heat during spring and summer months often relish the experiences you can only have when the snow falls and the ice forms. Bundled up, cozy by a fire, and witnessing the rare snowy majesty of the season. If any that resonates with you, check out some signature adventures for winter lovers, and for anyone who might need a little nudge to enjoy all this season has to offer!
Continue reading Only in Wintertime: Uncover Unique Winter Experiences at New York State Parks and Historic SitesTag Archives: new york
Reflections on the Erie Canal During its Bicentennial Year
The history and impact of the Erie Canal stretches back over 200 years, across more than 300 miles, and millions of lives. It is complicated, it is messy, it is multidimensional. You can become fascinated by it through the economics, the politics, the engineering, the social and cultural changes, the environmental impact, music, folktales, art, or a general love of history. Like the canal itself, history is a ribbon that connects us, for all the good and the bad.
The capstone of the revitalization of the Erie Canal during its Bicentennial is the inspiring journey of a replica canal barge. Buffalo Maritime Center enlisted the help of volunteers, donations and corporate sponsors to create a new version of The Seneca Chief. The original barge made the inaugural journey on the entirety of the canal in October of 1825, carrying Governor DeWitt Clinton and a keg of Lake Erie water. The replica Seneca Chief is on a similar journey in its path across New York State, but on a far larger, more complex journey through history.
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By the Numbers: The Benefits of State Parks and Historic Sites
“This system was built for you.” Over the past 100 years, this ideal has driven our agency’s growth beyond its original visions. New York State’s parks and historic sites contribute to their communities’ sense of identity. Businesses thrive thanks to park and historic site visitors. Generations of New Yorkers have worked at our parks and sites, some for their entire career, others for a season.
New York’s historic preservation initiatives have also had a positive ripple effect. Designating heritage areas and preserving landmarks sparked community pride — and investment. Tax credits help both individual homeowners and commercial developers preserve and re-develop historic structures. The State and National Registers of Historic Places and the Historic Business Preservation Registry fosters connections with the past.
Throughout 2024, we celebrated the intangible benefits of our system by collecting your visitor memories and offering hundreds of special events and activities. As we look to 2025 and beyond, let’s explore the ways in which our agency benefits all New Yorkers, by the numbers.
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Park Police Team Keeps Growing
It happened on January 3, 2025. The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation achieved something never done before – two graduations in less than one calendar year and the first summertime academy session. The agency continues the rebuild of one of the oldest police forces in the state, and are proud to welcome four new officers whose career paths began in other roles in the agency.
Behind the Scenes of ‘From Land to Legacy: 100 Years of NY State Parks and Preservation’
In honor of the 100th anniversary of the founding of New York’s park and historic site system, we knew we wanted to do something special. Telling our full story in-house in a documentary style — and ensuring that the agency’s 100-year legacy was shared accurately and completely — seemed like a daunting task for our small (but mighty!) Public Affairs team.
Above all else, it required bringing the right voices to the table:
- Professional storytellers who value public resources.
- Team members with vast institutional knowledge, from Indigenous history to environmental conservation and New York State’s recreation evolution.
- Powerful visuals that do our 250+ facilities justice.
- Staff and like-minded individuals who are passionate about our open spaces and rich cultural resources, and are working to preserve and protect them, day in and day out.
Thankfully, from discussions early on, Capital region PBS affiliate WMHT demonstrated enthusiasm for working on a documentary that would share our state park and historic site system’s Centennial story with New Yorkers. And it was this author’s honor to play a small role in seeing the enormous undertaking come to life.
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