FORCES NYS Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation

What FORCES NYS Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation does

New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (also referred to in input as FORCES NYS Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation) is a New York State government agency, founded in 1924 and headquartered in Albany, NY, that manages more than 250 parks, historic sites, trails, golf courses, boat launches, and campgrounds across over 360,000 acres, welcoming more than 88 million visitors annually. The agency's core offering is publicly funded access to outdoor recreation and historic interpretation, delivered through day-use entry, 8,100+ campsites/cabins/cottages, championship golf courses such as the Black Course at Bethpage, hiking/trails, boating, swimming, snowmobiling, hunting, birding, event rentals, and living-history programs at Revolutionary War and other heritage sites.

The agency's underlying technology footprint is modest and consumer-facing: the NY State Parks Explorer mobile application provides offline-capable downloadable maps, event listings, and know-before-you-go information; online reservation systems handle campsite, cabin, cottage, and Empire Pass transactions; and active social channels (Facebook, X, YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Flickr) plus the NY State Parks Blog support marketing and community engagement. No proprietary AI/ML, data platform, or API layer is disclosed.

The business model is a hybrid of state appropriations and user fees. Primary funding flows through New York State budget allocations, supplemented by recurring revenue from Empire Pass sales (annual, multi-season, lifetime), per-use camping and lodging fees, golf green fees, event venue rentals, and ancillary concession-related income. Customer segments are horizontal and diffuse — general public visitors, camping families, youth/education groups, history and heritage enthusiasts, and golfers — reached through direct public access, online self-serve reservations, and physical visitor centers. Partnerships with FORCES volunteer networks, Planting Fields Foundation, the U.S. National Science Foundation, and youth-education programs (Connect Kids, Ladders to the Outdoors) extend programming capacity without commercial intermediation.

Name

FORCES NYS Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation

Legal name

New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

Website

https://nysparks.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1924

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation is a state government agency founded in 1924 that manages 250+ parks, historic sites, golf courses, trails, and campgrounds across 360,000+ acres, serving 88+ million annual visitors through appropriations, Empire Pass subscriptions, camping and golf fees, and event rentals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

State Park Management and Public Recreation Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Historical Sites (71212), RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (7212)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Parks, Recreation & Protected Areas Administration (BPAIAMAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Forestry & Public Lands Administration (State/National Forests) (BPAIAMAF), Campground & Overnight Facilities Operations (Campsites, Cabins, Backcountry Huts) (THAAAGAE), Recreation & Activity Services (Hiking, Boating, Climbing, Fishing—Guided/Authorized) (THAAAGAF)

Keywords

• State park management
• Public recreation services
• Historic site preservation
• Campground reservations
• Outdoor activity programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Jamesville, NY

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Appropriations: State appropriations and government funding allocated by New York State for the operation of parks, historic sites, and recreational facilities.
2. Empire Pass Sales: Revenue from annual and lifetime Empire Passes providing unlimited access to most New York state parks and recreational areas. Single-season, multi-season, and lifetime pass options available.
3. Camping and Lodging Fees: Fees for overnight stays at campsites, cabins, and cottages throughout New York State. Over 8,100 camping units available across the park system.
4. Golf Fees: Fees for playing at state park golf courses including the famous Black Course at Bethpage State Park.
5. Event Rentals: Rental fees for hosting events at state park venues including weddings, corporate events, and community gatherings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The agency operates and provides public access to more than 250 New York state parks, historic sites, trails, golf courses, boat launches, and campgrounds across more than 360,000 acres. It sells entry passes (Empire Pass), reserves overnight accommodations in over 8,100 campsites/cabins/cottages, runs recreational activities, conducts historic preservation and youth education programs, and provides Park Police services to more than 88 million annual visitors.

Product overview

New York State Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation operates as a government agency overseeing a unified portfolio of recreational and preservation services across more than 250 state parks, historic sites, trails, golf courses, boat launches, and campgrounds spanning over 360,000 acres. The agency provides access through multiple channels: the NY State Parks Explorer mobile application (with offline maps and event information), the Empire Pass (offering single, multi-season, or lifetime park access), camping reservations (over 8,100 campsites, cabins, and cottages), and various recreational activities including golfing, trails, boating, swimming, snowmobiling, hunting, and birding. Additional services include historic preservation programs, Park Police protection, event rentals, and youth education initiatives like Connect Kids programming.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Empire Pass: Single-, multi-season, or lifetime pass providing unlimited access to most New York state parks and recreational areas.
• NY State Parks Explorer App

Products and services

• NY State Parks Explorer App
• Empire Pass
• Camping Facilities
• Connect Kids Programming
• Historic Preservation Services
• Park Police Services
• Event Rentals
• Recreational Activities
• State Park Golf Courses

Quantifiable outcome

• 88+ million visitors annually enjoying state park facilities and programming
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, minor and core.

• Planting Fields FoundationflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 August 2026Non-profit foundation operating at Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park. Received $1 million NYS Budget allocation to support preservation and future maintenance of the historic landscape at the park.
• U.S. National Science Foundation (via Resilient Earth, Resilient Communities Exhibit)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 July 2025Partnership hosting the Resilient Earth, Resilient Communities Interactive Exhibit at Thacher State Park, created by NSF's National Center. Educational exhibit focused on environmental science and community resilience.
• Friends Groups (FORCES and Individual Park Friends Organizations)coreOthersOrganized volunteer and advocacy groups supporting individual state parks and the statewide park system. FORCES (Friends of the New York State Parks) coordinates statewide Friends organizations that provide supplemental support, programming, and fundraising for park facilities and programs.
• Connect Kids Program Partners (Schools and Youth Organizations)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnerships with New York schools providing field trip transportation cost reimbursement and swimming instruction programs for school-age children.
• Ladders to the Outdoors Program PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth outdoor programming initiative connecting young people with nature experiences and stewardship opportunities through partner organizations.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• REI Co-op: REI Co-op is the largest consumer cooperative for outdoor recreation in the U.S., with 20M+ active members and extensive programming that funnels consumers toward outdoor activities. It is adjacent ecosystem infrastructure that drives demand for state park visitation.
• Trust for Public Land: Trust for Public Land is a national nonprofit that works to conserve land for public use, including state and local parks. It is adjacent rather than competitive, but interacts with NY State Parks on land acquisition, conservation easements, and grant funding.
• ReserveAmerica: ReserveAmerica is a leading outdoor reservation platform that handles campsite and facility bookings for numerous state and federal park systems. It is adjacent ecosystem infrastructure to NY State Parks' reservation system rather than a direct competitor.

Emerging players

• Thousand Trails: Thousand Trails operates a network of membership-based RV resorts and campgrounds across the U.S. Its subscription-style model directly parallels the Empire Pass approach, and represents competitive pressure on higher-end RV/camping stays.

Broad incumbents

• National Park Service: The U.S. National Park Service manages 400+ national parks and historic sites across all 50 states. While federally operated and broader in mandate, it provides the most direct comparison to NY State Parks in terms of operating model, historic site management, and visitor services mix.
• Kampgrounds of America (KOA): KOA operates the largest private network of campgrounds in North America with 500+ franchised locations. Represents the principal private-sector competitor in the camping/RV space and a benchmark for campground revenue models and amenity standards.

Direct peers

• Florida State Parks: Florida State Parks operates 175+ award-winning state parks with strong camping and lodging programs, drawing over 32 million visitors annually. Highly comparable in service mix, Empire Pass-equivalent annual pass program, and emphasis on campground revenue.
• Texas Parks and Wildlife Department: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department manages 80+ state parks, 50+ historic sites, and extensive wildlife management areas with a similar public-recreation mandate. Directly comparable as a state-level parks operator serving a large population base.
• California State Parks: California Department of Parks and Recreation operates the largest state park system in the U.S. with 280+ park units and similar mandate to manage natural and historic resources for public recreation and preservation. Directly comparable in scope, funding model, and service mix to NY State Parks.
• Pennsylvania DCNR: Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources operates 121 state parks and 2.4 million acres of forest land, with a parallel mission of public outdoor recreation, conservation, and historic preservation in a Northeast regional market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NYstateparks
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/nysparksandsites
• Facebookfacebook.com/nystateparks
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/forces-new-york-state-parks-recreation-and-historic-preservation
• Instagraminstagram.com/nystateparks

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about FORCES NYS Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation