NY Parks Visitors Set Record In 2022; HV Parks Decline Slightly

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — Annual attendance for New York’s state parks set a record in 2022, growing by about 1 million visitors from 2021.

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Thursday that there were 79.5 million visits to state parks, historic sites, campgrounds and trails operated by the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. That figure is up from 78.4 million in 2021.

She said the state’s recent investment to revitalize the park system, expand open space and protect the coastlines will ensure that generations to come can enjoy the diverse environment that New York has to offer.

“From Niagara Falls to Bear Mountain to Jones Beach, New York’s state parks offer residents and visitors the opportunity to reconnect with the environment, breath in the fresh air and find solace in their natural surroundings,” Hochul said.

While New York state park attendance grew, visitors in the Taconic Region, where the Hudson Valley is, fell slightly by about 182,000 — from 5 million in 2021 to 4.8 million in 2022.

According to numbers released by the state, the top five most visited state parks in the Hudson Valley for 2022 were:

1. Old Croton Aqueduct State Historic Park: 1,164,418
2. F.D. Roosevelt State Park: 681,630
3. Walkway Over the Hudson: 595,900
4. Hudson Highlands State Park: 470,771
5. Rockefeller State Park Preserve: 396,486

Lori Robertson, executive director of Friends of the Walkway, told Patch more than 7 million people have taken in the amazing panoramic views of the Hudson River since the Walkway opened in 2009.

“Whether coming from down the street or across the globe,” she said, “a visit to the Walkway is a key component of a day out in the Hudson Valley.”