S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8718
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               March 4, 2024
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  MAY  --  read  twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Tourism,
   Parks and Recreation
 
 AN ACT in relation to enacting the "parks are growing act"
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section  1.  Short  title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
 the "parks are growing act".
   § 2. 1. The commissioner of parks, recreation and  historic  preserva-
 tion  shall,  in  conjunction  with  the commissioner of agriculture and
 markets and the commissioner of environmental  conservation,  conduct  a
 land assessment of New York state parks regarding  the current condition
 of  such  state  parks,  and  shall  determine  cost  estimates  for the
 increased use of such state parks for farming, gardening, and  introduc-
 tion  of  pollinator-friendly plant species across the state as provided
 under subdivision 2 of this section.
   2. The land assessment and cost estimates conducted under  subdivision
 1 of this section shall include, but not be limited to:
   (a)  an  assessment  of  suitable areas of land in each state park for
 establishing floral and vegetable garden plots and introducing  pollina-
 tor-friendly  plant  species,  and  cost estimates for establishing such
 plots and introducing such species.  The  following  criteria  shall  be
 considered in conducting such assessments and cost estimates:
   (i) locations easily accessible by walking and/or car;
   (ii)  locations  of  continuously undisturbed, arable land of at least
 half an acre in size;
   (iii) locations with soil  types  suitable  for  growing  flowers  and
 crops;
   (iv)  locations  deemed  appropriate  for  plants native to the state,
 composed of a variety of nectar and  pollen-rich  flowers  with  a  wide
 range  and  variety of shapes, sizes, and colors that blossom at various
 times throughout the year; and
   (v) locations that will enhance enjoyment of the park by  the  general
 public;

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

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 S. 8718                             2
 
   (b)  a  map  of  each state park deemed to have met the criteria under
 subdivision (a) of this section along with a sketch of the  area  deemed
 to have met such criteria and such park's estimated size;
   (c) for each state park, a list of the native plants and/or crops that
 could  be  expected to grow in each such park, based upon the USDA Plant
 Hardiness Zone Map for each region;
   (d) an estimate of costs associated with the creation and annual main-
 tenance of garden plots in each park deemed to have available land; and
   (e) a list of local organizations which  may  provide  partnership  in
 service  of  the  annual  maintenance of each state park's garden plots.
 Such organizations may include but shall not be limited to:
   (i) boys and girls clubs;
   (ii) girl scouts and boy scouts groups;
   (iii) local gardening clubs;
   (iv) senior living programs;
   (v) BOCES programs;
   (vi) Future Farmers of America clubs; or
   (vii) 4-H gardening clubs.
   § 3. The commissioner of parks, recreation and historic  preservation,
 in  conjunction with the commissioner of agriculture and markets and the
 commissioner  of  environmental  conservation,  shall  submit  the  land
 assessments  and  cost  estimates  conducted pursuant to this act to the
 governor, the speaker of the assembly, and the  temporary  president  of
 the senate no later than six months following the effective date of this
 act.
   § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.