On the 34th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar launched a new ‘Love Our New York Lands’ photo contest highlighting removing barriers to public lands for New Yorkers of all ages and abilities. The winning images will receive prizes and be featured in statewide digital and print campaigns to increase awareness of principles and guidelines that encourage safe, accessible, respectful, inclusive, and sustainable use of public lands.
“DEC is proud to support the Americans with Disabilities Act and is working every day to make more public lands accessible for visitors to enjoy and share with each other,” Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar said.“ I encourage everyone to check out the many DEC recreation features on the new Accessible Recreation Destinations Map and throughout the DEC website. Plan your next adventure or relaxing escape to nature and send us your pictures of welcoming all ages and abilities to share the outdoors.”
Each of the Love Our New York Lands contests will have a different theme. August’s theme is “Accessible Recreation” to highlight participation in camping, picnicking, fishing, boating, hiking, nature viewing, and other recreational opportunities for New Yorkers with disabilities, and people of all ages and abilities. Three winning pictures will be chosen that feature creative shots of the public enjoying these and other activities at accessible recreation sites across New York State.
Complementing many recent accessibility improvements and initiatives, DEC launched a new interactive Accessible Recreation Destinations Map designed to showcase wheelchair-accessible features at DEC education centers, campgrounds and day use areas, waterway access sites, and trails, among other features. DEC also created a new Mobility Device Reservation Pilot Program for qualified individuals with disabilities to reserve and use an electrically powered wheelchair device free of charge to access the Camp Santanoni Historic Area in Newcomb, Essex County. DEC’s Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Civil Rights helps ensure compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act, among other requirements, and can provide more information about accessible recreation opportunities statewide.
Prizes will be awarded to the winning photo entries. Photos will be judged on the following criteria: originality; artistic composition; technical quality; and whether the photograph showcases inclusivity in people enjoying New York’s outdoor activities safely and responsibly.
Accessible Recreation photo submissions should be emailed to [email protected] by Aug. 31, 2024, with the subject line “Accessible Rec.” The photographer’s full name, the DEC land where the image was taken (reference land name, location, and UID code listed in the Accessible Recreation Destination Map pop-up, if applicable), and Instagram/social media handle should also be included. DEC may use photos of facilities featured in a variety of publications and outreach materials, including the Accessible Recreation Destinations Map.
June Contest Winners
DEC received more than 200 entries from the June “Pride” theme highlighting the importance of sharing State lands with all New Yorkers, including the LGBTQIA+ community, and ensuring a safe and welcoming space. The seven winning color spectrum entries were submitted by:
Pink: Stephanie Buckley
Red: Joey Priola
Orange: Karyn Libretto
Yellow: Tony Colasurdo
Green: Jack Kearney
Blue: Jack Kearney
Indigo/Violet: Joey Priola
View the winning photos on DEC’s Flickr page.
New York State has many wonderful opportunities to get outside and enjoy activities year-round, including birding and wildlife viewing; warm-weather adventures like swimming, biking, and horseback riding; cold-weather pursuits such as skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling; and even more challenging adventures like geocaching or rock and ice climbing.
The Love Our New York Lands campaign, launched in 2020 by DEC and State Parks, encourages all users of state-owned lands to recognize that these lands are shared by ALL of us, our families, and our neighbors, and we all need to take care of them. The campaign includes guidance on Leave No Trace™ principles so that visitors can do their part to help ensure these special places are protected for future generations. Love Our New York Lands encourages visitors to be respectful of other visitors in these shared spaces. Visitors are asked to share trails, treat people with kindness, and leave things as they found for others to enjoy. Visitors are encouraged to think of themselves as responsible for helping protect these irreplaceable destinations for future generations. More information is available on DEC’s website.
This contest further supports Governor Kathy Hochul's “Get Offline, Get Outside” initiative, which was launched earlier this month to encourage New York’s kids and families to put down their phones and computers, take a break from social media, enjoy recreation and outdoor social gatherings by putting their mental and physical health first.
