Governor Kathy Hochul has announced a $25 million rehabilitation project at Bear Mountain State Park, set to begin after Labor Day 2025 and finish ahead of the summer 2027 season.
The overhaul will add an accessible destination playground, expanded picnic areas, a new high-capacity restroom plaza, and modernized electrical and stormwater systems. Officials said the upgrades will double picnic capacity and add 20 restroom fixtures. The 5,205-acre park, which welcomed more than 2.3 million visitors in 2024, will remain open during construction with some capacity restrictions.
“Bear Mountain has been a cherished destination for families and visitors for over a century,” Hochul said in a press release. “This $25 million investment ensures the park’s facilities not only meet the needs of today but will serve generations to come.”
New York State Parks commissioner pro tempore Randy Simons noted the improvements will expand capacity for one of the system’s most heavily visited parks, while Palisades Interstate Park Commission executive director Joshua Laird emphasized the project’s role in preserving Bear Mountain’s legacy as a “gateway to nature and recreation.”
State Senator Pete Harckham and Assemblymember Chris Eachus also praised the investment, calling it vital for the park’s future and for ensuring families continue to have access to a premier outdoor destination.
While this is a state-managed flagship project, it highlights strategies private campground and RV park operators can mirror when modernizing: phasing upgrades to minimize disruption, adding ADA-accessible features, and balancing increased capacity with environmental protections.
The rehabilitation is part of Governor Hochul’s broader $200 million parks capital plan, which also directs funding toward playgrounds, pools, and community centers across New York.