Get Ready For New York State’s I Love My Park Day

Warmer days are here. Well, at least a lot warmer than those temperatures we experienced over the winter. And that means it's time to get out of the house and enjoy the great outdoors in New York State.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has announced the 15th annual 'I Love My Park Day', to be held on May 2, 2026.

What Is 'I Love My Park Day'

' I Love My Park Day'  will be at New York State parks, historic sites, and public lands throughout the Empire State, and is a partnership between Parks & Trails New York, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, and the Department of Environmental Conservation.

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It's a statewide volunteer event to enhance our parks, historic sites, and public lands and raise awareness and visibility of the state's outdoor recreation assets and their needs.

DEC is proud to steward nearly five million acres of public lands that provide unending benefits from water quality to unmatched recreational opportunities for New Yorkers. I Love My Park Day events are perfect opportunities for public stewards, volunteers, and friends of the environment to get outside and give back to New York’s special places. Together, we can preserve and protect our incredible public lands to ensure they remain vibrant community spaces for generations to come. - New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner, Amanda Lefton

According to the NYS DEC, on this day, volunteers will participate in cleanup events at over 120 state parks, historic sites, and public lands throughout New York State that are operated by the Department of Environmental Conservation and municipal parks.

Will You Volunteer? Here's How

Volunteers will be cleaning up debris, planting trees and gardens, restoring trails and wildlife habitats, removing invasive species, and working on various site improvement projects. To register, visit the NYS DEC website for I Love My Park Day.