State park attendance tops 1 million

WATKINS GLEN--Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced last week that New York's state parks, historic sites, campgrounds and trails welcomed a record-breaking 77.1 million visits in 2019. Of that, 1,037,138 visited Watkins Glen State Park in 2019.
Statewide, the estimated attendance is up nearly three million visits from 2018, an increase of four percent. It reflects an overall increase of 33 percent--or more than 19 million visits annually --since 2011. Watkins Glen had 520,502 visitors in 2011, showing a 99 percent increase when compared to 2019 numbers.
"The NY Parks 2020 initiative has revitalized our state parks and historic sites, and improved," Cuomo said. "Tourism is booming in New York and these beautiful sites are drawing visitors to all corners of the state, offering affordable opportunities for outdoor recreation and to experience our natural treasures while providing an economic boost to local communities."
While many of the major improvements made to parks last year were beyond the Finger Lakes region, the North Rim Trail in Watkins Glen reopened in October after being closed since 1983. More than 4,300 hours of work over two years were needed to rehab the steep path. With the trail being open it has allowed visitors to access the many other available routes through the park from the main entrance.
Around the state, some of the major projects last year included the new Shirley Chisholm State Park, upgrades at the golf course at Bethpage State Park, and renovated bathhouses and golf course improvements at Sunken Meadow State Park, upgraded visitors' center at Thacher State Park, two new welcome centers at Walkway Over the Hudson State Park, groundbreaking for a new visitors' center at Minnewaska State Park Preserve and an improved amphitheater at Saratoga Performing Arts Center at Saratoga Spa State Park.
Commissioner of the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Erik Kulleseid said, "People are seeing our improvements and they like what they see. Our Connect Kids program continues to grow, bringing more youth to the outdoors through free learn-to-swim programs, school field trips, and overnight summer camps. Thanks to Cuomo's leadership and commitment, we continue to rejuvenate and modernize our state park system, which is helping drive tourism and its economic benefits in all parts of our state."
Last year, attendance at state park campgrounds also surged to a record high of 688,369 nights, a 2.4 percent increase over the previous year's record. Since 2011, total overnight stays at state parks campgrounds have risen 26 percent.
A study of the economic impacts of state parks by the not-for-profit group Parks & Trails New York, based on 2015-16 figures of 67 million visitors, found those numbers drove about $4 billion in spending, supported about 45,000 jobs, and added $2.4 billion to the state's gross domestic product. The study found every dollar in state spending for parks generated about $9 in sales.