A wooden walkway passes through the coastal sand dunes to the waterfront at Southwick Beach State Park. (Fort Drum Garrison Public Affairs photo)
Free New York State Parks Explorer App connects visitors with the outdoors
ALBANY, N.Y. (June 30, 2020) – Today, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks) marked the beginning of the summer season by launching a new mobile app for smart devices to provide visitors and prospective visitors useful information about the variety of destinations and activities available throughout the Empire State’s parks and historic sites.
The New York State Parks Explorer App is a free, user-friendly resource for visitors to plan outdoor adventures while staying connected to long-time favorite parks and sites. Users can learn more about top destinations and discover new must-see locations with rotating curated content. They will enjoy quick access to park information, including directions, hours, amenities, fees and rates, trail maps, helpful know-before-you-go details, and the ability to receive important updates and alerts.
Visitors also can link directly to online camping reservations and easily access select State Parks’ social media channels to share their experiences.
The New York State Parks Explorer mobile app is available at no cost for download for iOS and Android devices. To download, visit https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=gov.ny.its.nysparks or https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ny-state-parks-explorer/id1496803341.
“This season more than ever, people are looking to spend time in the outdoors whether taking nature breaks, day trips or overnight getaways,” said State Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid, “and this new Parks Explorer App is a helpful tool for families on the go to plan the perfect adventure with ease. To stay in the know and make the most of your park visit, I encourage New Yorkers to download the app today.”
For the first time, this season also marks the introduction of user-friendly credit-card acceptance at collection points including pay stations, park offices and staffed lanes, so visitors are encouraged to take advantage of this cashless alternative.
Before heading to a state park or historic site, visitors are reminded to practice social distancing, bring and wear a face covering, respect the rules, and do their part to keep the parks, beaches and campgrounds open and safe for everyone.
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250 parks, historic sites, recreation trails, golf courses, boat launches and more, which are visited by 77 million people annually.
For more information about any of these recreation areas, call (518) 474-0456, visit www.parks.ny.gov, or connect on social media.
(New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation)