New York is home to one of the largest park systems in the nation. With millions of visitors spread out across the more than 300,000-acre footprint every year, safety is top of mind for rangers, park police and other staff. Now, work is being done to enhance security technology and training efforts across state parks.  

New York State Park Police Lt. Frank McGarity has been working to keep visitors safe for more than 20 years, and it’s no small task thanks to the park system’s diverse geography and sheer volume of visitors.    

“We had 84 million visitors last year,” McGarity said. “Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation has 250-plus properties. You’ve got recreational properties, you’ve got historic sites, you’ve got campgrounds, marinas, boat launches, state parks, golf courses.”

In an effort to prevent incidents and be prepared to respond to emergencies, up to $53 million was secured in the 2025 state budget to enhance security and improve public safety across state parks.

“You’ve had basically a collective effort with all of parks, all employees… I know they’ve gone through some training for proactive visitor engagement. I know they went through additional trainings – human trafficking, missing persons,” McGarity said.

Money will also go toward fencing and lighting improvements, security camera installation and license plate-recognition systems.

“We work with agencies, whether it’s a hardware or software deployment, to make sure that we have proper information about who and how people are using those safe spaces,” said Dru Rai, the director for New York State’s Office of Information Technology Services.

Calls for increased security technology grew last fall after the abduction of a 9-year-old girl at a New York State Park. Spectrum News 1 sat down with the girl’s aunt earlier this year.

“Had there been a camera in place at the entrance to Moreau Lake State Park, they would have captured Craig Ross’ truck, possibly his license plate, and we would have found her hours and hours earlier,” Jené Sena said, referring to the man who was convicted in the case and sentenced to 47 years to life in prison.

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) has analyzed attendance information, site conditions and service calls throughout the New York State Park system. As these upgrades are implemented, park police is reminding New Yorkers to do their part by being aware of their surroundings.

“See something, say something. If you see something that looks out of place in a state park, notify anyone,” McGarity said.

OPRHP has also been working this year to bolster park police ranks with an accelerated training academy schedule. You can find more information on their website.