NY State Senate Bill 2023-S8718A

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks And Recreation Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Sep 20, 2024	print number 8718a
Sep 20, 2024	amend and recommit to cultural affairs, tourism, parks and recreation
Mar 04, 2024	referred to cultural affairs, tourism, parks and recreation

Bill Amendments

Original

A (Active)

2023-S8718 - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks And Recreation
Law Section:: Parks
Versions Introduced in 2025-2026 Legislative Session:: S4415

2023-S8718 - Summary

Enacts the "parks are growing act"; directs the commissioners of parks, recreation and historic preservation, agriculture and markets, and environmental conservation to conduct a land assessment of suitable areas of land for establishing floral and vegetable garden plots and introducing pollinator-friendly species, and to develop and implement a plan pursuant to such land assessment.

2023-S8718 - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S8718

SPONSOR: MAY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act in relation to enacting the "parks are growing act"

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

The bill directs the commissioner of parks, recreation and historic
preservation to conduct a land assessment of New York state parks to
determine which parks may have areas of a half-acre or more that would
be suitable for use in farming, gardening, and for the introduction of
pollinator-friendly plant species. Such assessment shall include a cost
estimate for the expanded use of the parks for these purposes. This work
shall be done in conjunction with the commissioners of agriculture and
markets and environmental conservation.

The land assessment maps and cost estimates produced shall be submitted
to the governor, the speaker of the assembly, and the temporary presi-
dent of the Senate within six months of the effective date of the act.

JUSTIFICATION:

Public spaces like parks offer excellent opportunities not only for
recreation but also for hands-on learning in the fields of agriculture
and gardening. Given the opportunity, many youth and community groups
could avail themselves of the tremendous resource of open space and land
that our parks contain. An expansion of the use of small areas of
certain state parks for agricultural training and education would be
beneficial in multiple ways for young people and those in community
service, especially as public areas of arable land are in short supply
in both urban and suburban areas of the state.  New York's 250 state
parks contain 350,000 acres and of those there are surely good locations
for the purposes of this bill. The land assessment and cost estimates
conducted under this Act will inform the state about the potential for
our state parks to help people learn to grow many types of vegetables,
crops, flowers and especially pollinator friendly species. Experiences
in growing one's own food and flowers can lead to a lifelong hobby or
even a career in farming.  New York should take this opportunity to help
its residents learn to grow.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

Undetermined

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately

2023-S8718 - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8718
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               March 4, 2024
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  MAY  --  read  twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Tourism,
   Parks and Recreation
 
 AN ACT in relation to enacting the "parks are growing act"
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section  1.  Short  title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
 the "parks are growing act".
   § 2. 1. The commissioner of parks, recreation and  historic  preserva-
 tion  shall,  in  conjunction  with  the commissioner of agriculture and
 markets and the commissioner of environmental  conservation,  conduct  a
 land assessment of New York state parks regarding  the current condition
 of  such  state  parks,  and  shall  determine  cost  estimates  for the
 increased use of such state parks for farming, gardening, and  introduc-
 tion  of  pollinator-friendly plant species across the state as provided
 under subdivision 2 of this section.
   2. The land assessment and cost estimates conducted under  subdivision
 1 of this section shall include, but not be limited to:
   (a)  an  assessment  of  suitable areas of land in each state park for
 establishing floral and vegetable garden plots and introducing  pollina-
 tor-friendly  plant  species,  and  cost estimates for establishing such
 plots and introducing such species.  The  following  criteria  shall  be
 considered in conducting such assessments and cost estimates:
   (i) locations easily accessible by walking and/or car;
   (ii)  locations  of  continuously undisturbed, arable land of at least
 half an acre in size;
   (iii) locations with soil  types  suitable  for  growing  flowers  and
 crops;
   (iv)  locations  deemed  appropriate  for  plants native to the state,
 composed of a variety of nectar and  pollen-rich  flowers  with  a  wide
 range  and  variety of shapes, sizes, and colors that blossom at various
 times throughout the year; and
   (v) locations that will enhance enjoyment of the park by  the  general
 public;

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.

                                                            LBD14674-02-4
 S. 8718                             2
 
   (b)  a  map  of  each state park deemed to have met the criteria under
 subdivision (a) of this section along with a sketch of the  area  deemed
 to have met such criteria and such park's estimated size;
   (c) for each state park, a list of the native plants and/or crops that
 could  be  expected to grow in each such park, based upon the USDA Plant
 Hardiness Zone Map for each region;
   (d) an estimate of costs associated with the creation and annual main-
 tenance of garden plots in each park deemed to have available land; and
   (e) a list of local organizations which  may  provide  partnership  in
 service  of  the  annual  maintenance of each state park's garden plots.
 Such organizations may include but shall not be limited to:
   (i) boys and girls clubs;
   (ii) girl scouts and boy scouts groups;
   (iii) local gardening clubs;
   (iv) senior living programs;
   (v) BOCES programs;
   (vi) Future Farmers of America clubs; or
   (vii) 4-H gardening clubs.
   § 3. The commissioner of parks, recreation and historic  preservation,
 in  conjunction with the commissioner of agriculture and markets and the
 commissioner  of  environmental  conservation,  shall  submit  the  land
 assessments  and  cost  estimates  conducted pursuant to this act to the
 governor, the speaker of the assembly, and the  temporary  president  of
 the senate no later than six months following the effective date of this
 act.
   § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.

2023-S8718A (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks And Recreation
Law Section:: Parks
Versions Introduced in 2025-2026 Legislative Session:: S4415

2023-S8718A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2023-S8718A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S8718A

SPONSOR: MAY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act in relation to enacting the "parks are growing act"

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

The bill directs the commissioner of parks, recreation and historic
preservation to conduct a land assessment of New York state parks to
determine which parks may have areas of a half-acre or more that would
be suitable for use in farming, gardening, and for the int roduction of
pollinator-friendly plant species. This work shall be done in conjunc-
tion with the commissioners of agriculture and markets and environmental
conservation.

The amendment to this bill removes the requirement for such assessments
to include a cost estimate and submission to the governor and legisla-
ture and gives the commissioner a year to complete the assessments,
instead of six months.

JUSTIFICATION:

Public spaces like parks offer excellent opportunities not only for
recreation but also for hands-on learning in the fields of agricu lture
and gardening. Given the opportunity, many youth and community groups
could avail themselves of the tremendous resource of open space and land
that our parks contain. An expansion of the use of small areas of
certain state parks for agricultural training and e ducation would be
beneficial in multiple ways for young people and those in community
service, especially as public areas of arable l and are in short supply
in both urban and suburban areas of the state.  New York's 250 state
parks contain 350,000 acres and of those there are surely good locations
for the purposes of this bill. The land assessment conducted under this
Act will inform the state abo ut the potential for our state parks to
help people learn to grow many types of vegetables, crops, flowers, and
especially pollinator -friendly species. Experiences in growing one's
own food and flowers can lead to a lifelong hobby or even a career in
farming.  New York should take this opportunity to help its residents
learn to grow.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

Undetermined

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately

2023-S8718A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  8718--A
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               March 4, 2024
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  MAY  --  read  twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Tourism,
   Parks and Recreation -- committee discharged,  bill  amended,  ordered
   reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
 
 AN ACT in relation to enacting the "parks are growing act"

   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may  be  cited  as
 the "parks are growing act".
   §  2.  The commissioner of parks, recreation and historic preservation
 shall, in conjunction with the commissioner of agriculture  and  markets
 and  the  commissioner  of  environmental  conservation,  conduct a land
 assessment of New York state parks regarding  the current  condition  of
 such  state  parks,  and  shall  develop  and  implement  a plan for the
 increased use of such state parks for farming, gardening, and  introduc-
 tion  of  pollinator-friendly  plant species across the state. Such land
 assessment and plan shall include, but not be limited to:
   1. An assessment of suitable areas of land  in  each  state  park  for
 establishing  floral and vegetable garden plots and introducing pollina-
 tor-friendly plant species.  The following criteria shall be  considered
 in conducting such assessments:
   (a) locations easily accessible by walking and/or car;
   (b)  locations  of  continuously  undisturbed, arable land of at least
 half an acre in size;
   (c) locations with soil types suitable for growing flowers and crops;
   (d) locations deemed appropriate  for  plants  native  to  the  state,
 composed  of  a  variety  of  nectar and pollen-rich flowers with a wide
 range and variety of shapes, sizes, and colors that blossom  at  various
 times throughout the year; and
   (e)  locations  that will enhance enjoyment of the park by the general
 public;
   2. A map of each state park deemed to  have  met  the  criteria  under
 subdivision  one  of this section along with a sketch of the area deemed
 to have met such criteria and such park's estimated size;
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.

                                                            LBD14674-03-4
 S. 8718--A                          2
 
   3. For each state park, a list of the native plants and/or crops  that
 could  be  expected to grow in each such park, based upon the USDA Plant
 Hardiness Zone Map for each region; and
   4.  A  list  of  local  organizations which may provide partnership in
 service of the annual maintenance of each  state  park's  garden  plots.
 Such organizations may include but shall not be limited to:
   (a) boys and girls clubs;
   (b) girl scouts and boy scouts groups;
   (c) local gardening clubs;
   (d) senior living programs;
   (e) BOCES programs;
   (f) Future Farmers of America clubs; or
   (g) 4-H gardening clubs.
   § 3. The land assessment directed to be completed under section two of
 this  act  shall be completed no later than one year after the effective
 date of this act, when upon such date, the implementation  of  the  plan
 developed pursuant to section two of this act shall begin.
   § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.

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Senate Bill S8718A

Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks And Recreation Committee

Bill Amendments

2023-S8718 - Details

2023-S8718 - Summary

2023-S8718 - Sponsor Memo

2023-S8718 - Bill Text download pdf

2023-S8718A (ACTIVE) - Details

2023-S8718A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2023-S8718A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2023-S8718A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

Senate Bill S8718A

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Sponsored By

Rachel May

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks And Recreation Committee

Bill Amendments

2023-S8718 - Details

2023-S8718 - Summary

2023-S8718 - Sponsor Memo

2023-S8718 - Bill Text download pdf

2023-S8718A (ACTIVE) - Details

2023-S8718A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2023-S8718A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2023-S8718A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments