Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Launches New Climate Action Webpage

‘Spotlight Map’ Unveiled in Recognition of Climate Week 2026 Highlights Climate Action across State Parks and Historic Sites

Visit Climate Action Webpage

In recognition of Climate Week 2026, the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) launched the Climate Action "Spotlight Map," the centerpiece of OPRHP’s new climate change webpage. The map highlights projects across New York State that are reducing greenhouse gas emissions and helping State Parks and Historic Sites prepare for the impacts of a changing climate.  

“New York has been a national leader on climate action. From restoring wetlands and shorelines, to building net-zero facilities and reducing waste and energy use, State Parks is incorporating climate considerations into every aspect of our stewardship, planning, and operation of more than 250 parks, historic sites, trails, golf courses, boat launches, and other recreational and cultural destinations across New York State,” said Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Commissioner Kathy Moser. “By adapting facilities to climate change and reducing our carbon footprint, State Parks is safeguarding our natural and built resources by baking resilience into everything we do.”     

The Spotlight Map features a selection of projects demonstrating the range of climate action underway in New York State Parks. This includes a large number of projects designed to build climate resilience, ranging from restoring wetlands in Schodack Island State Park to improving infrastructure at Fair Haven State Park and monitoring environmental conditions to protect historical collections.

As the Spotlight Map highlights, OPRHP is also reducing its carbon footprint through investments in composting, recycling, and diverting waste at facilities statewide, as well as electrifying the State Parks’ fleet and installing solar panels at Saratoga Spa, Buffalo Harbor, Olana, Wellesley Island, Sojourner Truth, and Hudson Highlands state parks, among others.  

OPRHP is also hard at work developing its climate expertise, embedding climate considerations in park planning and supporting staff in the development of a host of technical skills related to solar energy siting, infrastructure upgrades, and other green energy projects. In addition, OPRHP is growing the next generation of climate leaders through the SUNY Climate Corps and with the network of education and nature centers that teach visitors about climate change, storm resilience, and environmental stewardship.  

The benefits of OPRHP’s climate action do not stop at State Parks boundaries. OPRHP manages a diverse portfolio of lands, ecosystems, buildings, infrastructure, and recreational facilities across New York State, all exposed to the same challenges faced by communities statewide. As such, the State Parks and Historic Sites system is well positioned to test, demonstrate, and scale climate solutions, ensuring the system is a platform for advancing resilience and sustainability statewide.