National Park and Recreation Month

Dear Constituents:

 Our summer vacations are beginning, taking advantage of pleasant weather and longer daylight hours. Therefore, ever since 1985, July has been called Park and Recreation Month.

 This year we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the recognition of July as our nation’s official Park and Recreation Month. Every July for the past twenty-five years, the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) has encouraged U.S. recreation facilities and parks to commence their summer programs, encourage outdoor recreation, and make their venues successful hubs for community activity.

 The 2010 theme for Park and Recreation Month is “Celebrate, Advocate, Recreate!,” and NRPA encourages the planning of events that trumpet the stimulating and essential role that parks and recreation play in the lives of our citizens.

 This year’s special July Park and Recreation Month initiatives include Visit a Park with Your Legislator Day: http://www.nrpa.org/julylegvisit/. Since this enterprise involves your Congress Member, I would like to avail myself of this opportunity to apprise you of a New York State project, the “Staycation.”

 Your New York State Senate Majority Conference has announced full restoration of funding for New York State parks and historic sites, including those in NYC. District #20 residents can take a New York ‘staycation’: they can stay and vacation in New York State or New York City.

 We have fulfilled our promise to keep parks open for New York’s families. My Senate Majority Conference colleagues and I have made a full restoration of funding to keep parks and historic sites open throughout the 2010-2011 fiscal year.

 More than three months ago, the Senate Majority Conference passed a budget resolution to restore $11 million for parks operations, preventing the closure of fifty-seven State Parks and eliminating the need for reduced operations at twenty-two others. We then reached a three-way agreement with the Executive and the Assembly on legislation to approve the restorations called for by the Senate Majority Conference in its budget resolution. Funds would also be reinstated for zoos, botanic gardens, aquariums, and Department of Environmental Conservation campgrounds.

The Senate Majority knows that these recreation areas provide places for New York's families to enjoy themselves and create jobs that strengthen our communities. Because of the legislative package passed by the Senate Majority Conference, New York Families can enjoy a ‘Staycation’ right here in the Empire State.

Please note: The economic impact of our State Parks is substantial:

• New York City’s State Parks – 4.5 million recreational visitors, 716 jobs created, and $61 million in related sales and output generated .

Yours very truly,

NYS Senator Eric Adams