ReportsThe following reports, dating back to 2008, were developed by Parks & Trails New York to support, protect, and advocate for our iconic state park system and the grassroots organizations that it depends on. Read ahead for more information on individual reports and how PTNY has played a pivotal role in advocating for NY state parks, historic sites, and public lands over the last three decades. ADVOCATING FOR PARKS Best Practices for State Park & Historic Site Friends Groups
Friends organizations have been supporting New York’s state parks and historic sites for nearly a century. The first Friends group in New York State was the Old Fort Niagara Association, founded in 1927, to provide historic interpretation and preserve the artifact collection of the Fort. Today, there are 76 state parks and historic site Friends groups across the state providing critical support and programs to our state parks system.
 Friends by the Numbers: Friends of NYS Parks and Historic Sites Survey Results
Non-profit Friends organizations have been supporting New York's state parks and historic sites for nearly a century. Today, 76 state parks and historic site Friends groups across New York State provide critical support and programs to our state park system. This report compares the data Parks & Trails New York collected from groups in 2015 and most recently in 2018. This report makes evident just how great of an impact the Friends groups have on New York's state park system.
 Economic Benefits of NYS Park System
The New York State Park system provides both economic and non-economic benefits to park visitors and New York State residents. State parks create jobs throughout New York and increase state GDP as a result of spending by park visitors and by the state government on park operations and capital improvements. Parks also contribute to increased property values, improved health outcomes and social capital, and cleaner air and healthier environments. This study uses data provided by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) as well as findings from studies of other state parks in order to quantify the level of employment and state GDP that is supported by the New York State park system.
 You Gotta Have Friends: A Snapshot of NYS Parks & Historic Site Friends Groups in 2016
Friends groups often accomplish Herculean tasks on shoestring budgets. This report summarizes the results of a census of the non-profit Friends organizations that support New York’s state parks and historic sites and demonstrates that these grassroots groups are poised to make an even greater contribution to the renaissance of the New York State park system.
 The New York State Park System: An Economic Asset to the Empire State
The New York State Park System makes a valuable contribution to the quality of life in New York State. This report documents another contribution of the State Park System – its impact on the state and regional economies.
 Parks at a Turning Point
New York’s state parks are its crown jewels – from the seascape at Montauk to the thunder of Niagara, from the forests of Allegany to the explorer’s paradise of the Thousand Islands, from the panorama of High Tor to the cascade of Chittenango. Now, more than ever, these are gems worth caring for.
 Protect Their Future: New York State Parks in Crisis
New York’s 178 state parks and 35 historic sites are a priceless asset. Each year some 57 million visitors come to these places seeking recreation, exercise, cultural enrichment, access to nature, and affordable vacations. Across the state, parks are refuges for people and nature.
 No Turning Back: The Campaign to Restore and Enhance our Parks
New York State’s system of state parks is an unmatched legacy—an asset that offers endless opportunities for outdoor recreation and that preserves priceless landscapes and ecosystems for future generations. But it’s a system that needs help.
Full List of PTNY Publications
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