Long Island state parks saw attendance surge in 2023
Crowds flocked to Jones Beach in record numbers last year, according to state parks officials. Credit: J. Conrad Williams Jr.
Long Island state parks filled with campers, hikers and beachgoers in 2023, including a record 8.6 million visitors to Jones Beach, part of increased park attendance across New York for the 11th consecutive year.
State park officials said a mild winter, good summer weather and ongoing facility improvement projects helped bolster attendance.
Robert Moses State Park attracted nearly 3.9 million visitors while Sunken Meadow drew more than 3.6 million, putting the parks behind Jones Beach as Long Island's second and third most popular.
“We had a good year, one of our busiest ever,” said George Gorman, Long Island regional director of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
“Weather and attendance were extremely good and weather is our key factor," Gorman said. "From the spring through the winter, we didn’t have any major snow to prevent visiting state parks. We had a good offseason and good summer while we’re building up our facilities.”
Attendance at New York State parks saw almost 4.7 million more visitors — a 6% spike — than the year before, officials said, adding that over the past two decades, attendance at state park facilities has increased by almost 60%.
Total attendance hit 84.1 million visitors last year at state recreation facilities, among them, parks, historic sites, campgrounds and trails, Gov. Kathy Hochul said Wednesday. The parks system celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2024.
“These numbers reflect New Yorkers' strong demand and appreciation for places to swim, hike, camp, gather with friends and family, and enjoy safe, healthy recreation,” Hochul said in a statement.
Long Island parks projects in 2023 included completion of the final phase of a $47 million multiyear upgrade at Hempstead Lake State Park — with new trails, observation areas and other improvements, state officials said.
Recent and ongoing facility improvements at Jones Beach contributed to its record attendance last year, officials said, citing the opening of the Jones Beach Energy and Nature Center in 2020 as one example.
Among the projects proposed for the Fiscal Year 2025 Executive Budget are $300 million in capital funding for park improvements statewide, including $100 million to renovate the East Bathhouse at Jones Beach and another $100 million for the centennial celebration.
Renovations at the East Bathhouse are set to include the addition of a sprayground and learn-to-swim pool. Hochul has directed parks officials to more than double the number of pools and beaches statewide where lifeguards offer water safety instruction programs.
Robert Moses has yet to match its peak in 2020, when nearly 6 million people visited. At that time, the park was overwhelmed with visitors, while still under 50% capacity restrictions because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Park staff managed traffic congestion from dawn until dusk.
“We had a great attendance year in 2020,” Gorman said. “It was not unexpected that park attendance soared with everyone being in lockdown."
Park officials said there were fewer traffic issues last year while managing record crowds at Jones Beach during events like the Bethpage Air Show during Memorial Day and the July Fourth fireworks.
Gorman said he anticipates another record year in 2024 — 100th anniversary celebrations bring out big crowds.
“The airshow last year was the biggest air show in years, with more than 350,000 people in three days,” Gorman said. “We had about 176,000 on July 4, which was the busiest day since 2019.”
Long Island state parks filled with campers, hikers and beachgoers in 2023, including a record 8.6 million visitors to Jones Beach, part of increased park attendance across New York for the 11th consecutive year.
State park officials said a mild winter, good summer weather and ongoing facility improvement projects helped bolster attendance.
Robert Moses State Park attracted nearly 3.9 million visitors while Sunken Meadow drew more than 3.6 million, putting the parks behind Jones Beach as Long Island's second and third most popular.
“We had a good year, one of our busiest ever,” said George Gorman, Long Island regional director of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
“Weather and attendance were extremely good and weather is our key factor," Gorman said. "From the spring through the winter, we didn’t have any major snow to prevent visiting state parks. We had a good offseason and good summer while we’re building up our facilities.”
Attendance at New York State parks saw almost 4.7 million more visitors — a 6% spike — than the year before, officials said, adding that over the past two decades, attendance at state park facilities has increased by almost 60%.
Total attendance hit 84.1 million visitors last year at state recreation facilities, among them, parks, historic sites, campgrounds and trails, Gov. Kathy Hochul said Wednesday. The parks system celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2024.
“These numbers reflect New Yorkers' strong demand and appreciation for places to swim, hike, camp, gather with friends and family, and enjoy safe, healthy recreation,” Hochul said in a statement.
Long Island parks projects in 2023 included completion of the final phase of a $47 million multiyear upgrade at Hempstead Lake State Park — with new trails, observation areas and other improvements, state officials said.
Recent and ongoing facility improvements at Jones Beach contributed to its record attendance last year, officials said, citing the opening of the Jones Beach Energy and Nature Center in 2020 as one example.
Among the projects proposed for the Fiscal Year 2025 Executive Budget are $300 million in capital funding for park improvements statewide, including $100 million to renovate the East Bathhouse at Jones Beach and another $100 million for the centennial celebration.
Renovations at the East Bathhouse are set to include the addition of a sprayground and learn-to-swim pool. Hochul has directed parks officials to more than double the number of pools and beaches statewide where lifeguards offer water safety instruction programs.
Robert Moses has yet to match its peak in 2020, when nearly 6 million people visited. At that time, the park was overwhelmed with visitors, while still under 50% capacity restrictions because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Park staff managed traffic congestion from dawn until dusk.
“We had a great attendance year in 2020,” Gorman said. “It was not unexpected that park attendance soared with everyone being in lockdown."
Park officials said there were fewer traffic issues last year while managing record crowds at Jones Beach during events like the Bethpage Air Show during Memorial Day and the July Fourth fireworks.
Gorman said he anticipates another record year in 2024 — 100th anniversary celebrations bring out big crowds.
“The airshow last year was the biggest air show in years, with more than 350,000 people in three days,” Gorman said. “We had about 176,000 on July 4, which was the busiest day since 2019.”
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