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Parks officials tout record visitation and ask for $200 million in capital funding; highlight New York Swims and safety investments
Summary
State parks officials told legislators record attendance and several new programs support accessibility and safety, and they urged continued capital funding, including a proposed $200 million appropriation and ongoing investments in New York Swims and safety technology.
State parks officials told a joint legislative hearing on Jan. 27 that the centennial year's programming helped drive record visitation and that continued capital investment is needed to maintain and expand public access.
"We welcomed a record breaking 88,000,000 visitors to our state parks," said Randy Simons, Commissioner Pro Tem for the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. "The governor's proposed budget maintains robust capital and operational funding necessary and will enable us to shape our system as we kick off the next 100 years here in 2025."
Why it matters: Parks officials said sustained capital investment would reduce backlog needs, support safety upgrades and expand programs aimed at underserved communities.
Key points from testimony
- Capital ask and backlog: The administration supports a $200,000,000 capital appropriation for parks this year to address core infrastructure needs and a multi-year backlog of projects, according to the testimony.
- New York Swims and access programs: Simons highlighted the New York Swims program, which invested $150,000,000 in grants to improve safe swimming access statewide last year and led the governor to waive pool entry fees for the summer; officials said waiver periods saw substantial increases in pool use.
- Safety and staffing: The proposed budget includes funding to improve safety technology and staff training; Simons noted a $53,000,000 investment to begin upgrading safety infrastructure, plus recent recruitment of nearly 50 park police officers and expansion of training programs.
- Major events and economic impact: Officials referenced upcoming major events, including the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage State Park, and said parks generate substantial economic returns. Simons said parks and related programming have measurable economic effects and help local tourism.
Open questions
Lawmakers asked how capital funding would be distributed across the state's 250 properties, how the parks plan to maintain affordability for disadvantaged communities and how the agency will balance flagship investments with regional equity. The agency said regional teams set priorities and the capital funding will be allocated through those regional lists.
No formal votes were taken at the hearing; the park budget request and program proposals will be considered during the legislative budget process.
