The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation has announced that it is seeking business or community service proposals to provide outdoor recreation and instruction programs that encourage state park visitors to participate in healthy activities.
The information gathered will be examined to identify opportunities to expand outdoor recreational programming and instructional classes, introduce park patrons to new recreation opportunities and new outdoor skills, and increase visitation in the parks and historic sites of the state park system.
“The outdoor recreation economy has proved its significance over the past several years, and our parks offer the settings and facilities for a multitude of recreational opportunities, from paddle-sports and fishing to mountain biking and cross-country skiing,” Rose Harvey, Commissioner of the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation said in a prepared statement to the press. “There is a great opportunity for partnerships to offer new and innovative ways to invest in our parks and our visitors, and I look forward to reviewing the proposals.”
The Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) targets businesses, non-profit organizations and individuals, potential operators, user groups, and other prospective partners for ideas for outdoor recreation programs and activities at the parks or sites of their choice. After receiving responses, State Parks will assess the submissions and may elect to interview those received which meet the agency’s goals and objectives with potential benefits and impacts on the park system overall, as well as the park under consideration. State Parks intends that the RFEI will help in the development of one or more programs for the enhancement, improvement and future use of the parks.
To request a copy of the RFEI, please call 518-486-2932 or email [email protected]. Proposed projects will need to be submitted by November 9, 2012. All expressions of interest responding to this RFEI must be in writing, signed by an authorized representative of the respondent, and submitted in a sealed envelope clearly marked “Outdoor Education RFEI” and directed to the following designated contact:
Attention: Harold H. Hagemann, Jr.
Director, Concessions Management Bureau
NYS Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation
Albany, New York 12238
Telephone: 518-486-2932
Clearly marked responses may also be electronically submitted on or before the deadline to the following e-mail address: [email protected], or via a CD mailed to Mr. Hagemann as noted above.
New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees 178 state parks and 35 historic sites. For more information on any of these recreation areas, call 518-474-0456 or visit www.nysparks.com, connect on Facebook, or follow on Twitter.