C in Aviation, D+ in Bridges, C- in Dams, C in Drinking Water, B- in Parks, D- in Roads, B- in Solid Waste, C- in Transit, and D in Wastewater…these were the grades that New York State received in its 2015 Infrastructure Report Card. When it comes to infrastructure, New York has room for improvement.

There are significant costs associated with New York’s C- average for infrastructure. Robust infrastructure is essential for continued economic development, and also supports a healthy New York. With obesity on the rise, we need infrastructure that makes it safer and easier for people to lead healthy, active lives. One major way we can support active communities is by revitalizing our state parks.

In 2010, the New York State park system was in crisis. After years of neglect, our parks were left with devastated historic buildings, boarded up recreational facilities, rusted playgrounds and broken down restrooms. This is why DASH-NY was delighted when Governor Cuomo issued the NY Parks 2020 Plan, which will invest $900 million in State Parks by 2020 and save this dying, but desperately needed public resource.

NY Parks 2020 has the following seven strategies in mind:

• Transform New York’s flagship State Parks through green parking, increased automation, better signs, the enhancement of natural and historic features, and the development of new cultural, hospitality, and recreational amenities.
• Promote healthy, active outdoor recreation by adding new trails, bikeways, greenways, sports fields; rehabilitating the pools and golf courses; investing in Harriman group camps that serve children from underserved communities; and hosting athletic leagues, triathlons, charity walks, swim lessons and more.
• Connect people with parks through access to underutilized park lands, enhancing customer service with new technologies, and investing in nature centers.
• Rejuvenate NY’s world class park system through modernizing infrastructure and repairing water systems, utilities, sewage treatment, and dams to improve the safety and health of visitors.
• Preserve historic sites and cultural assets by maintaining historic structures, preserving the work done by NY’s skilled workers, and enhancing technology to protect historic valuables.
• Sustain NY’s natural environment by planting trees, protecting against invasive species, enhancing resiliency to storms, and promoting the use of sustainable energy.
• Energize local economies through business partnerships, more recreational events, and local job creation.

DASH-NY applauds, appreciates and advocates for NY Parks 2020. This seven-part plan brings us many steps closer to fulfilling our DASH-NY policy priority of establishing Active Communities. Hopefully, through the successful implementation of NY Parks 2020, we will see the B- that New York State currently has in parks turn into an A+, along with the revitalization and modernization of our aviation, bridges, dams, drinking water, roads, solid waste and transit systems.

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