White Paper - New York State Office for the Aging

OFFICE OF PARKS,
RECREATION AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION
I. INTRODUCTION: INTERNAL SCAN
The mission of the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
(OPRHP, AKA the Office) is to provide safe and enjoyable recreational and interpretive
opportunities for all New York State residents and visitors and to be responsible stewards
of our valuable natural, historic and cultural resources.
Recreational activities change dramatically throughout the life cycle. Changes
are due not only to changes in an individual's physical abilities, but also social,
economic, and other factors as well. Older adults may take on new recreational interests
especially after their children have grown or when they retire. Demographic changes
within New York State will affect levels of participation in various recreational
activities. Although there are many "Baby Boomers" approaching retirement age, these
individuals are generally more active than previous generations.
Most park and recreational facilities will undoubtedly continue to undergo
adjustments to accommodate an older recreational market. Currently, we feature a
number of different programs and activities designed to accommodate the needs and
interests of senior citizens. For example, we feature a Golden Park Program, which
gives senior citizens free access to our sites during the weekdays. Additionally, we
sponsor an annual Senior Games athletic competition. We also feature many passive
recreational pursuits such as hiking, biking, birdwatching, camping and nature centers,
and many active recreational activities such as golf and fishing, that are popular among
seniors. The overall impact of an aging population on State Parks' will be an increase in
attendance. This will undoubtedly stimulate certain changes within the agency.
Agency mission/policies:
The impact of the state's changing demographic on the agency's mission and
policies include: revisiting and adapting our passive recreational activities to meet
senior needs; reviewing historic site programs which are a favored activity among
seniors and reviewing recreational survey data to meet increasing senior recreational
needs.
Programs/Patron needs:
The impact upon the agency's programs and patron needs include: increased
safety concerns throughout our facilities; consideration of parking and access for patrons,
who are not as mobile, yet not considered handicapped; development of more electric
campsites and cabins; development of more programs/activities geared toward non-team
sports and other activities that seniors favor; evaluate Recreational Vehicle (RV) site
demand, which could extend the camping season into the fall months since weather will
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