Statewide - Adoption and Implementation of the 2025-2030 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan

Positive Declaration

Statewide - The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation (NYS OPRHP), as lead agency, has determined that the proposed Adoption and Implementation of the 2025-2030 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan may have a significant adverse impact on the environment and a Draft Environmental Impact Statement must be prepared. The action involves the preparation of the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) by NYS OPRHP to provide statewide policy direction and to fulfill the agency's recreation and preservation mandate. The updated SCORP serves as a status report and as an overall guidance document for recreation, resource preservation, planning, and development from 2025 through 2030. The document is also used to guide the allocation of state and federal funds for recreation and open space projects. The direction for recreation in New York State is guided by several priorities, with associated goals and recommendations. NYS OPRHP seeks to broaden and improve the visitor experience by cultivating an outdoor recreation system that is welcoming, safe, inclusive, affordable, and accessible. NYS OPRHP seeks to restore, enhance, and transform its facilities with an emphasis on conservation, restoration, and resiliency of natural and historic resources. NYS OPRHP can fulfill its obligation to provide the general public with quality and equitable access to outdoor recreation and education opportunities, while celebrating diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Potential environmental impacts associated with adoption and implementation of the plan, as well as mitigation measures that could be taken to reduce potential impacts, are included as a part of the Plan which, in its entirety, constitutes a Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement.

NYS OPRHP will hold two public webinars to provide information on SCORP and offer the public an opportunity to comment on the Draft SCORP/DGEIS. The webinars will be held on: Thursday, October 2, 2025, at 1:00 PM and 6:30 PM.

Individuals wishing to attend a webinar should send an email requesting registration to [email protected]with their name, title, and organization (if applicable) and which webinar they plan to attend. A registration confirmation email will be sent. The webinar link and information on how to join the event will be sent three working days prior to the webinar. The deadline to register is Monday, September 29, 2025, at 5:00 P.M.

A hard copy of the DGEIS is available at the office of contact below.

The online version of the DGEIS is available at the following publicly accessible web site: https://parks.ny.gov/inside-our-agency/master-plans.aspx.

The project is located statewide in New York State.