S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   4415
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 4, 2025
                                ___________
 
 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. 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;
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD08682-01-5
 S. 4415                             2
              

 
   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;
   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 scouting america;
   (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.