Governor Hochul Encourages New Yorkers to Sign Up for the 12th Annual 'I Love My Park' Day

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that registration is now open for the 12th annual I Love My Park Day, which will be held on Saturday, May 6, 2023 at State parks, historic sites and public lands all across New York State. The event, a partnership between Parks & Trails New York, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, and the Department of Environmental Conservation, is the largest statewide volunteer event to enhance parks, historic sites and public lands and raise awareness and visibility to the state outdoor recreation assets and their needs.

"I Love My Park Day is a great opportunity for New Yorkers to give back to our incredible parks and public lands," Governor Hochul said. "I encourage New Yorkers to sign up and volunteer at a participating park, historic site or trail in their area to ensure future generations can continue to enjoy these amazing natural resources."

Volunteers will have the opportunity to participate in cleanup events at over 120 state parks, historic sites and public lands from Long Island to Western New York and covering all regions in between, including sites operated by the Department of Environmental Conservation and municipal parks. Registration for I Love My Park Day can be completed here.

Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Commissioner Erik Kulleseid said, "Thank you to our partners at Parks & Trails New York for organizing this event and expanding the opportunities to give back and promote responsible stewardship. Our volunteers are crucial in making our state park system the very best in the nation and we look forward to welcoming the thousands of volunteers for I Love My Park Day again this year.”

Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos said, “Public lands belong to all of us, our families, and our neighbors, and working together we can all take part in the stewardship of these special places for future generations to cherish and enjoy. I Love My Park Day is an excellent opportunity for New Yorkers to join DEC and our State Parks partners to get outside and inspire the next generation of environmental stewards by helping to maintain and preserve the natural beauty of our State lands.”

Parks & Trails New York Executive Director Paul Steely White said, “New Yorkers are head over hiking boots for their parks. Indeed, our beloved park system embraced and nurtured us during the pandemic, accommodating over 200 million unique visits (not to mention many recurring rendezvous). But love is a two-way trail, and healthy long-term relationships require maintenance. Now is the time to prove to your favorite park or open space that it was more than just a pandemic fling. Let’s show our parks, trails and open spaces all of the love on I Love My Park Day!”

Volunteers will celebrate New York's public lands by cleaning up debris, planting trees and gardens, restoring trails and wildlife habitats, removing invasive species and working on various site improvement projects.

To encourage year-round stewardship, PTNY, State Parks and DEC will launch additional volunteer opportunities throughout the summer and fall as part of the Love Our NY Lands campaign. The campaign goal is to help protect our natural resources by providing visitors with the knowledge necessary to reduce their impact, engage users to practice sustainable and safe recreation, and help all visitors feel welcome while visiting state lands.

Parks & Trails New York is New York's leading statewide advocate for parks and trails, dedicated since 1985 to improving our health, economy, and quality of life through the use and enjoyment of green space for all. With thousands of members and supporters across the state, PTNY is a leading voice in the protection of New York's magnificent state park system and the creation and promotion of more than 1,500 miles of greenways, bike paths, river walks, and trails. More information can be found here.

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250 parks, historic sites, recreational trails, golf courses, boat launches and more, which were visited by a record 79.5 million people in 2022. For more information on any of these recreation areas, visit www.parks.ny.gov, download the free NY State Parks Explorer mobile app or call 518.474.0456. Also, connect on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Under the Adventure NY initiative, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is making strategic investments to expand access to healthy, active, outdoor recreation; connect more New Yorkers and visitors to nature and the outdoors; protect natural resources; and boost local economies. Read more about the Adventure NY initiative on DEC's website.