Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, Office of

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Agency Web Site: https://parks.ny.gov/Link to External Website

Mission

The mission of the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) is to provide safe and enjoyable recreational and interpretive opportunities for all New York State residents and visitors and to be responsible stewards of our valuable natural, historic, and cultural resources.

Organization and Staffing

OPRHP is headed by a commissioner appointed by the Governor. Operations are administered through a network of 11 regional offices: Allegany, Central, Finger Lakes, Genesee, Long Island, New York City, Niagara, Palisades, Saratoga/Capital District, Taconic and Thousand Islands. The central office, which includes executive and other administrative support staff, is located in Albany.

Budget Highlights

The FY 2020 Executive Budget recommends appropriations of $481 million for OPRHP, an increase of $45 million from the FY 2019 Budget. This change reflects a New York Works increase of $20 million dollars to complete phase two of construction at Shirley Chisholm State Park, as well as increased appropriations for the establishment of a Golf Enterprise Fund and Retail Store Enterprise Fund.

The Executive Budget recommends a workforce of 2,041 FTEs for OPRHP in FY 2020, an increase of 17 FTEs from FY 2019 levels. This increase is directly attributed to additional FTE’s for the new Shirley Chisholm State Park.

The Budget allocates $110 million in New York Works capital funding to OPRHP in furtherance of the NY Parks 2020 initiative, which is investing $900 million in State Parks by 2020.

For more information on this agency's budget recommendations located in the Executive Budget Briefing Book, click on the following link:

Program Highlights

OPRHP’s mission is carried out through its operation of 215 parks and historic sites, providing safe and attractive facilities, accessible and affordable services and quality visitor experiences. In order to increase efficiencies, OPRHP has reorganized functions and consolidated management operations, and continues to achieve efficiencies by streamlining administrative oversight, redeploying staff and consolidating functions. To enhance park facilities and support events, OPRHP continues to foster public-private partnerships, including corporate sponsorships.

The responsibilities of the Office are carried out through four major programs:

  • Administration provides executive direction, fiscal, personnel and public communication services, as well as management of the capital program;
  • Park Operations operates the State’s 180 parks in the 11 Park regions throughout the State. Staff includes a statewide police force, security, field operations, and maintenance personnel;
  • Historic Preservation oversees preservation activities at 35 historic sites, develops a statewide Comprehensive Historic Preservation Plan and maintains the State Register of Historic Places; and
  • The Natural Heritage Trust receives and administers funds, including private gifts and bequests, to advance conservation, outdoor recreation and historic preservation purposes. Created under the Public Authorities Law in 1968, the Natural Heritage Trust is a public benefit corporation.
ALL FUNDS
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Category Available
FY 2019
Appropriations
Recommended
FY 2020
Change From
FY 2019
Reappropriations
Recommended
FY 2020
State Operations 225,698,000 249,454,000 23,756,000 30,846,500
Aid To Localities 9,530,000 9,305,000 (225,000) 36,337,900
Capital Projects 200,700,000 222,700,000 22,000,000 476,211,000
Total 435,928,000 481,459,000 45,531,000 543,395,400

ALL FUND TYPES
PROJECTED LEVELS OF EMPLOYMENT BY PROGRAM
FILLED ANNUAL SALARIED POSITIONS
Program FY 2019
Estimated FTEs
03/31/19
FY 2020
Estimated FTEs
03/31/20
FTE Change
Administration
General Fund 59 62 3
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 5 5 0
Historic Preservation
General Fund 105 105 0
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 19 19 0
Park Operations
General Fund 1,057 1,071 14
Special Revenue Funds - Other 286 286 0
Capital Projects Funds - Other 484 484 0
Recreation Services
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 9 9 0
Total 2,024 2,041 17

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY FUND TYPE
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Fund Type Available
FY 2019
Recommended
FY 2020
Change
Enterprise Funds 0 22,000,000 22,000,000
General Fund 128,967,000 130,721,000 1,754,000
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 7,283,000 7,283,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 89,448,000 89,450,000 2,000
Total 225,698,000 249,454,000 23,756,000
Adjustments:
Transfer(s) To
Employee Relations, Office of
General Fund 189,000
Appropriated FY 2019 225,887,000

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program Available
FY 2019
Recommended
FY 2020
Change
Administration
General Fund 5,508,000 5,508,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 500,000 500,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 500,000 500,000 0
Historic Preservation
General Fund 8,824,000 8,824,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 1,783,000 1,783,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 99,000 101,000 2,000
Park Operations
General Fund 114,635,000 116,389,000 1,754,000
Special Revenue Funds - Other 83,885,000 83,885,000 0
Recreation Services
Enterprise Funds 0 22,000,000 22,000,000
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 5,000,000 5,000,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 4,964,000 4,964,000 0
Total 225,698,000 249,454,000 23,756,000

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF PERSONAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2020 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program Total Personal Service Regular
(Annual Salaried)
Amount Change Amount Change
Administration 5,064,000 (10,000) 5,053,000 (10,000)
Historic Preservation 8,175,000 0 6,500,000 0
Park Operations 101,061,000 1,754,000 73,763,000 1,754,000
Total 114,300,000 1,744,000 85,316,000 1,744,000
STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF PERSONAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2020 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Temporary Service
(Nonannual Salaried)
Holiday/Overtime Pay
Amount Change Amount Change
Administration 0 0 11,000 0
Historic Preservation 1,588,000 0 87,000 0
Park Operations 21,793,000 0 5,505,000 0
Total 23,381,000 0 5,603,000 0

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2020 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program Total Supplies and Materials
Amount Change Amount Change
Administration 444,000 10,000 105,000 0
Historic Preservation 649,000 0 221,000 0
Park Operations 15,328,000 0 5,672,000 0
Total 16,421,000 10,000 5,998,000 0
STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2020 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Travel Contractual Services
Amount Change Amount Change
Administration 108,000 10,000 200,000 0
Historic Preservation 23,000 5,000 351,000 (5,000)
Park Operations 215,600 0 5,796,400 0
Total 346,600 15,000 6,347,400 (5,000)
STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2020 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Equipment
Amount Change
Administration 31,000 0
Historic Preservation 54,000 0
Park Operations 3,644,000 0
Total 3,729,000 0

STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2020 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program Total Personal Service
Amount Change Amount Change
Administration 1,000,000 0 175,000 0
Historic Preservation 1,884,000 2,000 1,060,000 200,000
Park Operations 83,885,000 0 34,700,000 2,000,000
Recreation Services 31,964,000 22,000,000 12,433,000 9,519,000
Total 118,733,000 22,002,000 48,368,000 11,719,000
STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2020 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Nonpersonal Service
Amount Change
Administration 825,000 0
Historic Preservation 824,000 (198,000)
Park Operations 49,185,000 (2,000,000)
Recreation Services 19,531,000 12,481,000
Total 70,365,000 10,283,000

AID TO LOCALITIES
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY FUND TYPE
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Fund Type Available
FY 2019
Recommended
FY 2020
Change
General Fund 225,000 0 (225,000)
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 3,170,000 3,170,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 6,135,000 6,135,000 0
Total 9,530,000 9,305,000 (225,000)

AID TO LOCALITIES
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program Available
FY 2019
Recommended
FY 2020
Change
Historic Preservation
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 370,000 370,000 0
Natural Heritage Trust
General Fund 170,000 0 (170,000)
Recreation Services
General Fund 55,000 0 (55,000)
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 2,800,000 2,800,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 6,135,000 6,135,000 0
Total 9,530,000 9,305,000 (225,000)

CAPITAL PROJECTS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Comprehensive Construction Program Available
FY 2019
Recommended
FY 2020
Change Reappropriations
FY 2020
Facilities Maintenance and Operations
Capital Projects Fund 21,000,000 21,000,000 0 12,000,000
Federal Capital Projects Fund
Federal Capital Projects Fund 20,000,000 20,000,000 0 31,926,000
Maintenance and Improvements of Existing Facilities
State Parks Infrastructure Fund 38,400,000 40,400,000 2,000,000 63,094,000
Misc. Capital Projects 28,800,000 28,800,000 0 133,498,000
Natural Heritage Trust
Capital Projects Fund 0 0 0 300,000
New York Works
State Parks Infrastructure Fund 92,500,000 112,500,000 20,000,000 232,612,000
Outdoor Recreation Development Bond Fund
Outdoor Recreation Development Bond Fund 0 0 0 230,000
Parks EQBA 86
Capital Projects Fund - EQBA 86 (Bondable) 0 0 0 1,799,000
Parks and Recreation Land Acquisition Bond Fund
Parks and Recreation Land Acquisition Bond Fund 0 0 0 752,000
Total 200,700,000 222,700,000 22,000,000 476,211,000

Note: Most recent estimates as of 1/15/2019