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Love Our New York Lands 2024 Events

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  The Love Our New York Lands campaign, launched in 2020 by the State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, encourages all users of state-owned lands to recognize that these lands are shared by all New Yorkers, our families, and our neighbors, and we all need to take care of them.

This campaign offers New Yorkers and visitors guidance on Leave No Trace™ principles so that together we can help ensure these special places are protected for future generations. While enjoying these shared spaces, be respectful of other visitors. Share trails, treat people with kindness, and leave things as you found them for others to enjoy. Visitors are encouraged to think of themselves as responsible for helping protect these irreplaceable destinations for future generations:

One way to give back to our public lands is to seek out local or statewide cleanup days like I Love My Park Day or Canal Clean Sweep. To build on the success of these events and to carry the spirit of stewardship and volunteerism throughout the year, Parks & Trails New York as well as NYSDEC, the NYS Canal Corporation, and NY State Parks & Historic Sites, are hosting themed statewide stewardship days in 2024 throughout the summer and Fall.

 

Past Events

Canal Clean Sweep (April 19-21, 2024)

Canal Clean Sweep is an annual statewide clean-up event that occurs along major greenways across New York State to celebrate Earth Day. Clean-ups primarily occur along the Erie and Champlain Canalway, the Glens Falls Feeder Canal, the Black River Feeder Canal, and the Rochester Riverway. 

  • 193 clean up events occurred across the three-day event 
  • 2,200 people pre-registered for the event, with anticipated turnout closer to 3,000
  • Of those that responded to a feedback survey, 85% covered up to 3.8 miles of trail during their event
  • Of those that responded to a survey, half were first time sweepers
  • On average, each event organizer received four-and-a-half, 55 gallon trash bags (depending on their group size). We estimate that most groups filled at least 4 bags, meaning around 772 bags of trash were filled across the three-day event for a total of 42,460 gallons of trash removed.

I Love My Park Day (May 4, 2024)

I Love My Park Day--the largest single-day volunteer event in NYS--presents a perfect opportunity to clean up our favorite parks and shorelines, plant trees and gardens, restore trails and wildlife habitat, remove invasive species, and work on various site improvement projects--all which help to prepare our iconic state park system and public lands for the start of the season. 

  • 150 events occurred across eleven Park regions 
  • 4,000+ people pre-registered for the event, with anticipated turnout closer to 5,000
  • More than $5,000 was provided by organizations or businesses as in-kind donations to sites

Upcoming Events

Adirondack and Catskill Park Day (September 7, 2024)

Show your appreciation for New York’s unique and beautiful Forest Preserve lands by participating in Adirondack and Catskill Park Day! Hosted on the first Saturday of September, this day focuses on the conservation of land that makes up over 6.5 million acres within New York. Help with trail maintenance in the Forest Preserve or participate in a campground cleanup after a busy summer season. Your stewardship efforts will help protect these outdoor spaces for years to come.

Fish and Wildlife Day (September 28, 2024)

Coinciding with National Hunting and Fishing Day, Fish and Wildlife Day is a great opportunity to show your appreciation for wildlife and wildlife conservation. Plant native plant species and remove invasives to foster healthy wildlife habitat at a Wildlife Management Area. Learn how to build a bird or bat house that will benefit the species at a State Park or State Forest near you. At the end of the day, pair your stewardship efforts with a birding or nature walk and appreciate the importance of wildlife conservation!

Resources for Love Our New York Lands Events

Sponsors

Are you interested in sponsoring Love Our New York Lands Events in 2024?

Please contact Will Cote, PTNY's Senior Director of Public Lands, [email protected]

FIND A COMPLETE LIST OF OUR 2024 SPONSORS HERE.

Parks & Trails New York (“PTNY”) is a registered 501c3 organization and not affiliated with its I Love My Park Day partners, the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. PTNY exercises sole discretion in selecting and approving all Sponsors for this event, and 100% of all Sponsor proceeds are donated to PTNY. Participation as a Sponsor does not constitute endorsement of any entity.