National Park Service Centennial Draws Nearly a Half-Million Visitors to Long Island’s National Parks in 2016

Date: March 19, 2017
Contact: Elizabeth Rogers, [phone]
Contact: Josh Reyes, [phone]

National Parks on Long Island welcomed nearly half a million visitors during the 2016 celebration of the National Park Service (NPS) Centennial. Initiatives like Every Kid in a Park, special exhibits and programs highlighting the Centennial drew 431,303 visitors to Fire Island National Seashore and 65,500 to Sagamore Hill National Historic Site.
 
"People come to experience this region’s rich history and breathtaking shorelines, “ said Seashore Superintendent Chris Soller, “and there’s no better place than Long Island’s national parks to do so.” Special programs celebrating the NPS Centennial -  like Fire Island’s Find Your Park Art Exhibit and beach hiking challenge, and Sagamore Hill’s Centennial Summer Sunday Programs - brought visitors from near and far to these sites throughout the year. "It has been wonderful to share with the public the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service at the home of the president who started the legacy of setting aside national monuments and conservation lands for public benefit in this country," said the Acting-Superintendent of Sagamore Hill National Historic Site Eric Breitkreutz.

The Every Kid in a Park initiative also encouraged visitation in 2016 by offering fourth graders and their families free entry to the Fire Island Lighthouse tower and to the Theodore Roosevelt’s home. The Every Kid in a Park program enters its third year in 2017, and fourth graders may download their free park passes online at www.everykidinapark.gov.

To learn more about National Parks on Long Island and how the National Park Service works with New York communities to help preserve local history, conserve the environment, and provide outdoor recreation, go to www.nps.gov/NEWYORK.