New York State Park pool attendance increased by more than 65% between July 4 and Sunday after Gov. Kathy Hochul made state park pool access free all summer as a part of her “Get Offline, Get Outside” campaign.
Overall State Park attendance also increased by 30% over the holiday weekend, from 2.2 million visitors in 2023 to 2.8 million this year.
“This Fourth of July weekend, New York kids and families put down their phones, got outside, and took advantage of free pool access at our beautiful state parks,” Hochul said. “It’s wonderful news to see that millions of people spent their time outdoors this past holiday, and I’m encouraging New Yorkers to continue to stay active and beat the heat this summer.”
From July 4 through July 7, 2.8 million visited a state park. Of that, 83,741 people visited state park pools — a 33,219 increase from 2023. On July 2, Governor Hochul announced that the state is waiving pool entry fees for the rest of this summer at swimming pools located at State Parks throughout New York. Regular parking fees still apply at state park locations that include on-site parking. Governor Hochul has also initiated a pilot program at State Park pools to offer free sunscreen to help families stay safe in the sun and enjoy the outdoors.
Locally, the pool at Niagara Falls State Park is impacted and will allow free entry for the summer.
Added State Parks Commissioner Pro Tempore Randy Simons, “New York is fortunate to have such high-quality state parks and historic sites across the state, and I’m thrilled Governor Hochul is encouraging families to ‘Get Offline and Get Outside’ to experience the state’s wonderful outdoor destinations.”
Hochul’s “Get Offline, Get Outside” campaign builds on her efforts to promote healthy living among young people and families across New York.