Senate Resolution No. 1041

BY: Senator SERRANO

MOURNING the death of Robin Dropkin, unwavering
champion of public lands and environmental
protection

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to honor and pay
just tribute to the memory of those prominent individuals whose creative
talents have contributed to the environmental and recreational
enrichment of the citizens of the State of New York; and

WHEREAS, Born in New York City on December 8, 1952, Robin Dropkin's
passion for environmental stewardship began at an early age, fostered by
a love of gardening and a deep knowledge of flora and fauna; and

WHEREAS, Robin Dropkin earned a bachelor's degree from the
University of Michigan in 1975 and went on to earn a master's degree in
environmental studies from Antioch University New England in Keene, New
Hampshire, to share her commitment to environmental protection with the
next generation of environmental stewards; and

WHEREAS, In 2001, Robin Dropkin was named the Executive Director of
Parks & Trails New York (PTNY) and transformed the organization into
Albany's leading statewide public lands nonprofit organization, creating
a legacy of advocacy, outdoor recreational opportunities, and
environmental stewardship; and

WHEREAS, Seeing an opportunity to expand recreational opportunities
while protecting our precious natural spaces, Robin Dropkin launched the
Genesee Valley Greenway Project in 1991 to connect a dozen communities
between Letchworth State Park and the Erie Canal in Rochester, which
spurred an advocacy campaign to create the State Park Infrastructure
Fund the following year; and

WHEREAS, After early successes, in 1993, Robin Dropkin spearheaded
the report "Preserve & Protect: Challenges Facing New York's State Park
System," the first analysis of the beleaguered conditions facing New
York's state park system, and which led to the organization of the first
Statewide Parks Conference in 1997; and

WHEREAS, As a method of drawing attention to the potential for a
unique statewide asset in a completed, 360-mile Erie Canalway Trail
running from Buffalo to Albany, Robin Dropkin launched "Cycling the Erie
Canal," an eight-day bicycle tour from Buffalo to Albany that
highlighted the opportunity to create an iconic statewide trail, brought
economic development to communities across New York, and which has given
more than 10,000 people from all parts of the globe the adventure of a
lifetime; and

WHEREAS, In 2006, Robin Dropkin led the release of "Parks at a
Turning Point," a landmark report documenting crumbling infrastructure
at state parks and historic sites which exponentially grew the coalition
advocating for public lands in New York, leading to a capacity building
grant program for nonprofits that champion our park and trails in 2008,

and the release of the first Economic Impact Study of the New York State
Park System in 2009; and

WHEREAS, In 2010, Robin Dropkin and her coalition of park and public
land advocates led the grassroots fight to prevent the closure of 88
state parks threatened with closure due to budget constraint, which
culminated in a successful advocacy campaign securing significant annual
capital funding for state parks and historic sites which continued into
2015; and

WHEREAS, Decades of advocacy and grassroots development efforts by
Parks & Trails New York came to fruition in 2020 when the Empire State
Trail was completed, closing gaps on the Erie Canalway Trail and the
Hudson River Valley Greenway and allowing New York State to boast the
longest state multi-use trail in the nation; and

WHEREAS, Robin Dropkin continued to lead on a myriad of initiatives,
programs, and coalition priorities that aimed to expand, steward,
enhance, and improve public access to our iconic state parks system, and
increase the opportunities for environmental education and outdoor
recreation until her passing in early 2023; and

WHEREAS, She is survived by her husband, Chip Frank; daughter; Mara
Simon, and her children, Shoshana and Jacob; and son, Dan Dropkin-Frank;
and

WHEREAS, It is the intent of this Legislative Body to publicly
recognize those who have contributed extensively to the environmental
and recreational achievements of this great Empire State and Nation;
now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the death of Robin Dropkin, unwavering champion of public lands
and environmental protection; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of Robin Dropkin.