Senate Approves Winner's Legislation To Create Statewide 'Adopt-a-Park' Program

Albany, N.Y.-- The New York State Senatehas approved legislation sponsored by Senator George H. Winner, Jr. (R-C, Elmira) to establish an "Adopt-a-Park" program in New York State.

"In an era when municipalities face tough fiscal challenges and choices, the establishment of a statewide Adopt-a-Park program could help maintain the quality of many neighborhood, community parks," said Winner.

Winner said that the new program would be modeled after the state’s successful Adopt-a-Highway program, which was permanently established in 1990. Over the past 15 years the state Department of Transportation (DOT) has established agreements with businesses, service organizations and concerned citizens to keep more than 5,000 miles of New York roadways free from litter. Under the highway program, the DOT provides safety briefings, safety gear, trash bags and trash collection services. Additionally, the department erects blue-and-white Adopt-a-Highway signs along the adopted route to acknowledge the effort. There are currently 2,400 active Adopt-a-Highway agreements in place across New York State.

Winner believes that his proposed Adopt-a-Park program would be just as successful as the volunteer highway cleanup initiative.

"Adopt-a-Highway has become a recognizable and effective public-private partnership in New York State and across the nation," Winner said. "I’m confident that Adopt-a-Park would be equally successful. Community parks are rallying points for civic cooperation and pride."

Under Winner’s legislation, the commissioner of the state Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation would administer a statewide Adopt-a-Park program for the preservation, maintenance and enhancement of municipally owned parks. Municipalities could obtain technical assistance and guidance from the department in organizing volunteers to undertake projects to improve a park owned by the municipality. The Adopt-a-Park program would assist volunteers in park maintenance and beautification projects including vandalism remediation, litter removal, trail development and landscaping.

The legislation must be approved by the Assembly and signed by Governor George Pataki before becoming law. It has been already been approved by the Assembly Tourism, Arts and Sports Development Committee and is currently being considered by the Assembly Codes Committee. The measure is sponsored in the Assembly by Assemblyman Robin Schimminger (D-Erie County).