NY will upgrade playground at Lakeside State Park
Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Office
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced New York has committed $2.5 million to build or improve 14 playgrounds at State Parks across New York, including Lakeside State Park in Carlton.
This funding is part of the Governor’s goal to modernize 100 State Park playgrounds by 2020. The park improvements reflect the state’s Connect Kids to Parks program, which aims to draw more youth to the outdoors by offering free day-use park entry to fourth-grade students and their families, and a new transportation grant program to help school children visit state parks.
“Quality playgrounds are a magnet for families, drawing children to parks and inspiring New York’s youth to enjoy healthy recreation throughout their lives,” Governor Cuomo said. “These improvement projects build on New York’s efforts to make state parks more user-friendly, safe and fun, and will encourage residents and visitors to experience the Empire State and discover our great outdoors.”
Under the initiative, State Parks will replace outdated playgrounds at parks with modern, code-compliant equipment and in distinct areas for young and older age groups. Playground improvements will be coupled with site improvements, including shade trees or canopies, seating, water fountains and trail/walkway connections to the rest of the park.
The State Parks include:
Capital District
Taconic State Park at Copake Falls
Central New York
Two playgrounds at Fair Haven State Park
Long Island
Wildwood State Park
Finger Lakes
Lakeside State Park
Seneca Lake State Park
Western New York
Beaver Island State Park
Evangola State Park
Wilson-Tuscarora State Park
Mid-Hudson Valley
Mills-Norrie State Park
North Country
Higley Flow State Park
Keewaydin State Park
Southwick Beach State Park
Southern Tier
Taughannock Falls State Park
The playgrounds are funded by Governor Cuomo’s NY Parks 2020 state park revitalization plan, which includes a commitment to add or improve 100 playgrounds by 2020. NY Parks 2020 is a multi-year commitment to leverage $900 million in private and public funding for State Parks from 2011 to 2020. The 2018-19 State Budget allocates $90 million toward this initiative.
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more 250 individual parks, historic sites, golf courses, recreational trails and boat launches, which are visited by 71 million people annually. For more information on any of these recreation areas, visit parks.ny.gov.
