Parks & Trails New York

What Parks & Trails New York does

Parks & Trails New York (PTNY) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocacy organization founded in 1985 and headquartered at 1 Steuben Place, Albany, NY, operating with a team of approximately 12 staff. Originally incorporated as the New York Parks and Conservation Association and rebranded in 2004, PTNY functions as New York State's leading statewide advocate for parks, trails, and public lands, serving outdoor recreation enthusiasts, parks advocates, volunteers, Friends groups, Trail Town communities, and municipal partners. Its mission combines policy advocacy (Park & Public Lands Advocacy Day, budget lobbying in Albany), grant administration (the $2.65 million annual Park & Trail Partnership Grants administered in partnership with NYS OPRHP and DEC), community-building events (Cycle the Erie Canal bike tour, Cycle the Hudson Valley bike tour, Canal Clean Sweep, I Love My Park Day, Statewide Friends Conference), and research publications including the June 2026 Empire State Trail Economic Impact Study.

PTNY's 'technology' is operational rather than productized: it runs on commodity SaaS (NeonCRM for donations, membership, and event registration; Wufoo for forms; Zoom for webinars; Google Workspace for collaboration) and has no proprietary platform. Its content assets — printed and digital guidebooks (e.g., Cycling the Erie Canal and Cycling the Hudson & Champlain Valleys at $26.95 each), branded merchandise ($15–$40), the interactive Cycling the Canalway Trail Map, and research reports — are produced in-house and distributed through its own e-commerce storefront and wholesale channels.

Revenue is diversified across six streams: tiered membership dues ($35 Friend to $1,000 Heritage Society), one-time and recurring donations (including the 'Park & Trail Champion' monthly program, planned giving, IRA QCDs, and securities gifts), bike tour registration fees, merchandise and guidebook sales, corporate sponsorships (e.g., National Grid, M&T Bank, Wegmans), and grant-related funding (notably the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation for Western NY work). Pricing for bike tours is not publicly disclosed. Operating revenue is not disclosed in the input; the $2.65 million Park & Trail Partnership Grants program passes through to Friends groups and is not retained as organizational revenue. PTNY has no subsidiaries, no funding rounds, and no parent company; ownership rests with its 25-member Board of Directors and 8-member Advisory Council, with Paul Steely White serving as Executive Director since March 2023.

Name

Parks & Trails New York

Legal name

Parks & Trails New York

Website

https://ptny.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Parks & Trails New York is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1985 and headquartered in Albany, NY, that advocates for New York's parks and trails through policy lobbying, grant administration, signature bike tours, volunteer events, and research publications serving members, Friends groups, Trail Town municipalities, and outdoor recreation enthusiasts statewide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Parks & Trails Advocacy Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Tour Operators (561520), RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (7212)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services (BPAIACAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Guided Tours & Interpretive Services (Ranger-Led, Naturalist, Cultural Interpretation) (THAAAGAB), Recreation & Activity Services (Hiking, Boating, Climbing, Fishing—Guided/Authorized) (THAAAGAF)

Keywords

• Parks trails advocacy
• Nonprofit advocacy services
• Guided bike tours
• Volunteer conservation events
• Outdoor recreation grants

Headquarters

HQ city

Schenectady

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership program with tiered levels ($35 Friend to $1,000 Heritage Society) offering benefits including guide discounts, tour discounts, and newsletter access.
2. Retail Sales (Shop): Sale of guidebooks ($26.95), merchandise including apparel ($15-$40), bike jerseys, water bottles, and accessories. Also sells to wholesalers for retail distribution.
3. Donations & Contributions: One-time and recurring donations, monthly giving programs ('Park & Trail Champion'), planned giving, qualified charitable distributions from IRAs, and securities gifts.
4. Grant Administration: PTNY administers the $2.65 million annual Park & Trail Partnership Grants program in partnership with State Parks and DEC, though funds pass through to Friends groups rather than serving as organizational revenue.
5. Bike Tour Registrations: Registration fees for fully-supported multi-day bike tours including Cycle the Erie Canal and Cycle the Hudson Valley. Volunteers who commit to specific roles ride for free.
6. Corporate Sponsorships: Sponsorship revenue from corporate partners sponsoring events like Canal Clean Sweep, bike tours, and the George W. Perkins Reception. Includes sponsors like National Grid, M&T Bank, Wegmans, and others.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Parks & Trails New York is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) advocacy organization that advocates for New York State's parks and trails through policy advocacy, grant administration, signature multi-day supported bike tours (Cycle the Erie Canal, Cycle the Hudson Valley), volunteer stewardship events (I Love My Park Day, Canal Clean Sweep), Trail Town economic development programs for trail-side communities, and publishing of guidebooks, trail maps, and research reports. Membership and donations are offered across tiered levels, and the organization sells branded merchandise and guidebooks through an online store.

Product overview

Parks & Trails New York (PTNY) operates as a nonprofit advocacy organization rather than a traditional product company. Its offerings consist of experiential programs, volunteer events, grant programs, publications, and merchandise. The core portfolio includes two flagship fully-supported bike tours (Cycle the Erie Canal and Cycle the Hudson Valley), the Empire State Trail Towns and Genesee Valley Trail Towns programs supporting trail-side communities, the Park and Trail Partnership Grants ($2.65M annual initiative), and annual volunteer events (Canal Clean Sweep, I Love My Park Day, Park & Public Lands Advocacy Day, Statewide Friends Conference). PTNY also publishes trail guidebooks, interactive trail maps, and research reports on parks and trails, alongside branded merchandise available through its online shop. Membership programs at various contribution levels provide discounts on tours, guidebooks, and merchandise.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cycle the Erie Canal Bike Tour PTNY's flagship eight-day, fully supported bike tour along the Erie Canalway Trail spanning 400 miles from Buffalo to Albany, offering camping, meals, rest stops, gear transport, and route guidance for cyclists of all abilities.
• Cycle the Hudson Valley Bike Tour A fully supported 5-day bike tour following the Empire State Trail from Troy to NYC, covering 200+ miles through the Hudson Valley with daily distances of 40-55 miles for cyclists interested in combining cycling with cultural and historical exploration.
• Empire State Trail Towns Program A 10-month program that recognizes and supports trail-side communities along the Empire State Trail, providing expert guidance on boosting outdoor recreation access, creating trail-friendly destinations, and promoting tourism.
• Genesee Valley Trail Towns Program Program supporting communities along the 90-mile Genesee Valley Greenway in developing trail-focused economic opportunities, with Western NY Trail Town Grants of $3,000-$15,000 available for qualifying projects.
• Bike Friendly New York Recognition program that promotes businesses offering accommodations, amenities, and services tailored to trail users and bicyclists along New York State trails.
• Park and Trail Partnership Grants A $2.65 million annual initiative administered by PTNY in partnership with NY State Parks (OPRHP) and DEC, providing crucial funding to Friends groups and nonprofit organizations that support New York's public lands.
• PTNY Membership Program Multi-tiered annual membership program offering benefits including discounts on guidebooks, bike tours, and merchandise; tiers include Friend ($35), Supporter ($50), Advocate ($100), Guardian ($250), Protector ($500), and Heritage Society ($1,000).
• Canal Clean Sweep Annual volunteer-driven cleanup event across New York's canal system held each April to celebrate Earth Day and prepare the canals for spring recreation, engaging 1,000+ volunteers and cleaning 125+ miles of canal corridor.
• I Love My Park Day New York's largest single-day volunteer event where 5,000+ volunteers help care for state parks, historic sites, and public lands through cleanup and enhancement projects.
• Park & Public Lands Advocacy Day Annual event where park supporters meet with lawmakers in Albany to advocate for funding and policies supporting New York's parks, trails, and public lands.
• Statewide Friends Conference Biennial conference bringing together Friends groups and public lands champions from across New York State, held at Fort William Henry Conference Center in Lake George for training and coalition building.
• Cycling the Erie Canal Guidebook 150+ page guidebook with maps and information on the Empire State Trail from Albany to Buffalo, priced at $26.95 and sold online and through wholesale distribution.
• Cycling the Hudson & Champlain Valleys Guidebook Guidebook with 40+ full color maps covering the north-south route of the Empire State Trail from NYC to the Canadian Border, priced at $26.95 and sold online and through wholesale distribution.
• Cycling the Canalway Trail Interactive Map Interactive web map for exploring the Erie Canalway Trail and Champlain Canalway Trail, covering the 400-mile Canalway Trail system.
• PTNY Merchandise (Apparel and Accessories) Branded merchandise including Pocket Tees ($25), cycling caps ($40), resort shirts, bike jerseys, sandwich bags, belt bags, bottle slings, and to-go ware bamboo utensils, sold via the online shop and wholesale distribution.
• Trail Count Program Trail usage data collection program operated by PTNY that turns recreation into evidence to help communities fund, protect, and expand New York's trail networks.
• Western NY Trail Town Grants Grant program offering $3,000-$15,000 in funding for projects enhancing trail user experience and promoting trail-based economic development in Western New York communities.

Named customers5 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership with OPRHP for administration of Park & Trail Partnership Grants and co-hosting of Statewide Friends Conference. OPRHP oversees 250+ state parks and historic sites, and PTNY serves as the leading advocacy voice for this system.
• New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint administration of Park & Trail Partnership Grants with DEC, which manages approximately 5 million acres of public lands across New York State including forests, wetlands, and wildlife management areas.
• New York State Canal CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with the Canal Corporation to organize Canal Clean Sweep volunteer events and operate the Empire State Trail Town Program along the Erie and Champlain Canalway Trails. The 524-mile canal system includes 400 miles of Canalway Trail.
• Rochester Accessible Adventures (RAA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInclusion Partners collaborating on accessibility initiatives for public lands. RAA provides expertise on inclusive practices and accessibility assessments, with PTNY staff completing Inclusion Ambassador Training and Certified Inclusivity Assessor training.
• NYPA/NYS Canal Corporation Accessibility Education ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPTNY participates in this accessibility education program to better accommodate all New Yorkers and improve inclusion practices across programs and operations.
• Institute for Transportation Research and Education (ITRE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner providing rigorous analysis and methodology for the Empire State Trail Economic Impact Study, contributing to defensible outcomes and academic credibility of research findings.
• LaBella AssociatesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecreation Development Specialist contributing to the Empire State Trail economic impact study as quoted partner providing survey data and analysis from trail user research.
• Hudson River Valley GreenwaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Empire State Trail development and promotion along the Hudson Valley corridor, collaborating on trail initiatives and visitor engagement.
• NYS Canal CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOversees the Erie, Champlain, Oswego and Cayuga-Seneca canals spanning 524 miles. Works with PTNY on Canalway Trail promotion, Canal Clean Sweep events, and economic development initiatives.
• EarthShare New YorkminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWorkplace giving federation enabling payroll deduction donations to PTNY through employer campaigns, expanding reach to workplace donors.

Scale indicators19 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Scenic Hudson: Hudson Valley conservation nonprofit that protects riverfront land, supports parks and trails, and advocates for land-use policy in New York. Comparable as a New York regional parks and trails advocate that works with Friends groups and municipalities along the Empire State Trail corridor.
• Open Space Institute: Northeast-focused land conservation nonprofit that protects scenic, recreational, and working lands including in New York State. Comparable as a New York-active conservation organization that partners with state agencies on land protection and trail/greenway initiatives, though it focuses on land acquisition rather than grassroots advocacy.

Emerging players

• New York League of Conservation Voters: New York State environmental policy advocacy organization that scores legislators, runs voter education, and lobbies Albany on environmental budgets. Comparable as a statewide environmental advocacy nonprofit working the same Albany policy channels PTNY targets for parks and trails funding.
• Leave No Trace: National nonprofit that delivers outdoor ethics education and volunteer stewardship programs on public lands. Comparable as a public-lands stewardship nonprofit that mobilizes volunteers and partners with state park systems for trail-side education and cleanups, though at national scale.

Direct peers

• Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit focused on land conservation and creating parks close to people, with active state-level programs including in New York. Comparable as a parks/trails funding and advocacy organization that partners with government agencies and runs grant programs for community-driven conservation.
• Adventure Cycling Association: National nonprofit dedicated to bicycle travel and cycling route development across the U.S. Comparable as a bike-tour and route-based nonprofit that operates supported tours, sells maps and guidebooks, and advocates for cycling infrastructure investment.
• Appalachian Mountain Club: Regional outdoor recreation and conservation nonprofit offering guided hikes, volunteer trail stewardship, and advocacy across the Northeast. Directly comparable as a membership-supported nonprofit combining recreation programming (hikes, trips), volunteer trail maintenance, and policy advocacy.
• National Parks Conservation Association: National advocacy organization dedicated to protecting and enhancing America's national parks. Comparable as a parks-focused nonprofit combining policy advocacy, membership programs, and field-based engagement that protects funding for park systems.
• Rails-to-Trails Conservancy: National nonprofit that converts former rail corridors into multi-use trails and advocates for trail funding at the federal and state level. Directly comparable as a trail advocacy and community-building organization operating overlapping Trail Town–style programs and federal/state policy campaigns.

Others

• EarthShare New York: Workplace-giving federation that routes payroll-deduction donations to New York environmental nonprofits. Already a PTNY channel partner; comparable as an enabling/distribution partner rather than a direct peer, supporting PTNY's fundraising reach into employer campaigns.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/ptny
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ParksandTrailsNY
• Facebookfacebook.com/parksandtrailsny
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/parks-&-trails-new-york
• Instagraminstagram.com/parkstrailsny

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

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 Parks & Trails New York