Thousands of New Yorkers participate in state's 8th annual 'I Love My Park Day'

Volunteers take part in community cleanup projects at record number of state parks, historic sites, public lands across New York

Thousands of volunteers participated Saturday in the eighth annual “I Love My Park Day,” helping with community cleanup, beautification and stewardship events at more than 140 state parks, historic sites and public lands across New York. An estimated 8,000 volunteers participated in 250 park and trail projects, including planting trees and gardens, clearing debris, restoring trails and wildlife habitats, cleaning shorelines and beachfronts and more.

State Parks Acting Commissioner Erik Kulleseid said, "Our volunteers are crucial to making our park system a success. I am grateful for the thousands of New Yorkers who came out to volunteer and show their support at a record number of parks this year. Thank you to Gov. Cuomo for his strong commitment to our state parks and to Parks & Trails New York for helping to make this one of the most fun and inspiring days of the year in our state park system."

DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said, “DEC is a proud partner of ‘I Love My Park Day,’ and we thank everyone who volunteered at an event this year. These volunteers are helping to improve the parks and public open spaces that continue to draw millions of visitors and outdoor enthusiasts from across the country and around the world to their unmatched beauty. Through investments like Gov. Cuomo’s historic funding of the Environmental Protection Fund for a remarkable fourth straight year, we are working together to continue demonstrating our statewide commitment to protecting, preserving and responsibly promoting New York’s amazing natural resources.”

Parks & Trails New York Executive Director Robin Dropkin said, “New York’s park legacy is a responsibility handed down from one generation to the next. Through ‘I Love My Park Day,’ New Yorkers are able to step up and do their part for their parks. Parks help us all stay healthy and active, and, by working together, we can make them even better.”

In 2012, Cuomo launched “I Love My Park Day” to improve and enhance New York’s treasured parks and historic sites and bring increased visibility to New York’s state parks system. Now held every first Saturday in May, this year’s event, sponsored jointly with Parks & Trails New York, included partnerships with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the National Park Service, Excelsior Conservation Corps and the New York State Commission on National and Community Service.

Parks & Trails New York is the leading statewide advocate for parks and trails, dedicated since 1985 to improving the health and quality of life of all New Yorkers by working with community organizations and municipalities to envision, create, promote and protect a growing network of parks, greenways and trails throughout the state for all to use and enjoy.