New York’s extensive network of state parks are an important public resource providing New Yorkers and visitors with green spaces, fresh air, and recreational and educational opportunities. The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) is responsible for overseeing more than 250 parks, historic sites, and other recreation sites outside of the Catskills and Adirondack regions. These facilities are located in 56 of the state’s 62 counties and had 86 million visits in 2025. This marks a 10-year increase of 16.7 million visits (24 percent), or 45,701 more per day, since 2016.

Figure 1 – New York State Parks and Historic Sites Attendance (in millions)

Figure 1 Data Table

Year	Attendance
2016	69,351,725
2017	71,571,568
2018	74,185,653
2019	77,110,069
2020	78,019,700
2021	78,447,193
2022	79,448,251
2023	84,108,956
2024	88,378,737
2025	86,032,620

Source: Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

Note: Data collected by OPRHP’s Agency Attendance reporting system, into which each state park facility reports estimated attendance information. At facilities operated by concessionaires or partner entities, attendance is reported to OPRHP by the partner annually.

State Law establishes 12 park regions across the state. Attendance is greatest in the Long Island, Niagara and New York City regions.

Figure 2 – 2025 State Park Attendance by Region (in millions)

Figure 2 Data Table

Park Region	Park Attendance
Long Island	28,706,873
Niagara	13,203,071
New York City	10,108,307
Saratoga/Capital	6,371,741
Palisades	6,263,815
Central	5,349,254
Finger Lakes	5,348,104
Taconic	4,585,285
Genesee	2,196,012
Allegany	1,999,478
Thousand Islands	1,900,680

Source: Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

Note: Data collected by OPRHP’s Agency Attendance reporting system, into which each state park facility reports estimated attendance information. At facilities operated by concessionaires or partner entities, attendance is reported to OPRHP by the partner annually.

The two State parks with the largest attendance by far sit at almost opposite ends of the state. Niagara Falls had 8.9 million visitors in 2025 and Jones Beach had 7.9 million visitors. Niagara Falls is the oldest state park in the country, established in 1885. Over the past 10 years, attendance has surged at Gantry Plaza (an increase of 194 percent), Saratoga Springs (63 percent) and Jones Beach (34 percent).

Figure 3 – Ten State Parks with the Highest Attendance in 2025

Source: Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

Note: Data collected by OPRHP’s Agency Attendance reporting system, into which each state park facility reports estimated attendance information. At facilities operated by concessionaires or partner entities, attendance is reported to OPRHP by the partner annually.

In addition to parks managed by OPRHP, the Department of Environmental Conservation manages State lands in the Adirondacks and Catskills. The Adirondack Park’s six million acres are the largest protected region in the contiguous United States. According to the Adirondack Council, between 7 and 12.4 million people visit the Adirondack Park each year. The Catskills Park encompasses over 250,000 acres, 300 miles of trails, and more than 700 individual camping sites. 

Parks provide benefits to the State and have demonstrated health benefits.¹ They provide recreation, habitat for wildlife, and help to maintain a healthy ecosystem. According to New York State’s 2025-2030 State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan, more people are participating in outdoor recreation; however participants are recreating less frequently. 

Between 2024 and 2025, there was a decrease of 2.3 million visits from the previous year (2.7percent). This decrease may have been partially a result of a wet spring followed by a hot and dry summer as well as park facility closures; however, the figures are also influenced by lower attendance from Canadian visitors, as tourism from Canada has declined. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, outdoor recreation accounts for 1.6 percent of New York’s GDP and over 264,000 jobs are attributable to outdoor recreation. 

While the past 10 years demonstrate success, it is important to continue to encourage New Yorkers to take advantage of State gems—from urban oases to lakes and beaches to forests and natural wonders.

Endnote

1 Mychal Cohen, Kimberly Burrowes, and Peace Gwam, The Health Benefits of Parks and Their Economic Impacts | Urban Institute, February 28, 2022 (accessed March 5, 2026); Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Parks, Recreation and Green Spaces | Active People, Healthy Nation (accessed March 5, 2026); and World Health Organization, Urban green spaces and health review evidence (accessed March 5, 2026).