Leaders from New York State parks and environmental agencies met with groups that support public lands in Lake George this week to compare ways to recruit volunteers, broaden access and strengthen stewardship, according to Parks & Trails New York.
The two-day Power of Partnerships gathering brought together community “Friends” groups with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and Department of Environmental Conservation. The event focused on how those groups can sustain their work and collaborate with the public agencies that manage the sites they support.
State Parks Commissioner Kathy Moser and DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton gave keynote presentations, along with Tiffany Rea-Fisher, director of the Adirondack Diversity Initiative. Parks & Trails New York organized the gathering with the state agencies.
Volunteer groups compare practical challenges
Sessions covered sensory-inclusive spaces and programs, volunteer recruitment and retention, organizational structure and the transition from all-volunteer groups to staffed nonprofits. Other discussions addressed Indigenous history on public lands, outdoor education and the role of Friends organizations in their communities.
Representatives connected to state parks, historic sites, DEC properties and greenway trails also met in peer circles. Parks & Trails New York said they exchanged examples of what has worked at their sites and discussed shared challenges.
A closing panel focused on partnerships among site managers, community organizations and volunteers. The group's executive director, Paul Steely White, said the conference gave organizations from across New York a chance to learn from one another and build working relationships with state partners.
The conference release did not identify new state policy decisions or funding awards resulting from the discussions. Moser and Lefton described the groups as partners in maintaining public lands and improving access to outdoor recreation.
Grant program marks 10 years of projects
Attendees also marked 10 years of completed projects under the Park and Trail Partnership Grant program. The gathering included an awards ceremony and the unveiling of a time capsule commemorating work supported by the program.
Field trips took participants to Lake George Battlefield Park, Moreau Lake State Park, Fort William Henry and the Warren County Bikeway. The visits connected the conference discussions to historic sites, recreation areas and trail networks in the region.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to news@fingerlakes1.com.