Open Space Institute applauds New York State Assembly and Senate one-house budgets; budgets increase Environmental Protection Fund to US$500M, add US$200M for state parks capital projects

OSI urges adoption of final budget that will expand efforts to protect open space, improve parks, and reform state land acquisition processes

New York, NY, March 18, 2025 – The Open Space Institute (OSI) applauded Majority Members of the New York State Senate and Assembly for supporting conservation and outdoor recreation efforts through their proposed One-House Budgets. Key proposals:

• A historic increase to the state’s Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) by both Houses that will grow available funds to $500 million, up from $400 million, including nearly $60 million in funding for open space protection;
• The Senate’s allocation of $10 million for greenway trail development in the EPF, a new budget item that aligns with the growing popularity of greenway trails;
• Inclusion of Governor Kathy Hochul’s $200 million investment for capital projects at state parks, providing much-needed funding to improve or create park infrastructure in response to strong year-over-year visitation growth for state parks. 

Significantly, the Senate also joined Governor Hochul’s efforts to modernize the state’s land acquisition process by including title insurance reform in their budget language as a way to speed the pace of the state’s land protection efforts.

“The Open Space Institute is encouraged by the support for conservation and parks proposed by the Senate and Assembly Majorities,” said Erik Kulleseid, President & CEO, OSI. “We thank our partners in state leadership and look forward to successful negotiations as the budget is finalized. New Yorkers have made it clear time and again that they want to see green spaces protected and improvements made at state parks. The proposed One-House Budgets show that lawmakers have heard their constituents loud and clear, and are working to deliver a budget that supports effective and efficient state spending—especially around the timely and vital issue of conservation.”