Why EPF Funding is Essential for the Catskills Visitor Center
The Pollinator Garden at the Catskills Visitor Center
At the Catskill Center, we know how vital it is to welcome, educate, and guide visitors within the Catskill Park. Every year, tens of thousands of people visit the Congressman Maurice D. Hinchey Catskills Visitor Center—the Park’s only official visitor center—to learn about responsible recreation, discover the region’s natural and cultural heritage, and connect with programs that deepen their experience in the Catskills.
This work is only possible thanks to support from New York State’s Environmental Protection Fund (EPF), a dedicated funding source that invests in open spaces, environmental stewardship, recreational access, clean air and water, and strong communities for all New Yorkers. Continued, dedicated funding is essential—without it, the Catskills Visitor Center, and the countless benefits it provides to our communities and visitors, are at risk.
WHAT’S AT STAKE
The Visitor Center is far more than an information desk. It is a gateway to the Catskills, offering:
Guidance that helps visitors recreate safely and responsibly—preventing accidents, protecting fragile habitats, and reducing strain on local communities.
Educational programs for families, students, and lifelong learners, connecting people with Catskills ecology, history, and culture.
Seasonal stewardship and outreach programs that extend far beyond the Visitor Center—from Kaaterskill Falls to Peekamoose Blue Hole and the Catskill Fire Towers.
Access to 60 acres of trails, picnic areas, wildlife viewing, and the Upper Esopus Fire Tower, a highlight of the Catskill Fire Tower Challenge.
Directing visitors to main streets across the Catskills to enjoy local businesses and support local economies.
Without EPF support, these services—and the safety and sustainability they bring—would be in jeopardy.
A PROVEN PARTNERSHIP
The Catskills Visitor Center is the product of a decades-long public-private partnership between New York State and the Catskill Center. New York State has invested in capital projects like the Visitor Center building and the Upper Espopus Fire Tower, while the Catskill Center owns the land, and manages daily operations: staffing, education, exhibits, and outreach.
This partnership works—but only if the EPF continues to include a dedicated line of support for the Visitor Center. Each year, state funding helps cover essential operational costs, while the Catskill Center raises additional funds to expand programming and improve visitor services. Without the state’s investment, this model would be unsustainable.
WHY CONTINUED EPF SUPPORT MATTERS
Last year’s $250,000 EPF allocation made a tangible difference:
Tens of thousands of visitors greeted at the Visitor Center and across the Park
A new Catskill Park map and guide distributed to nearly 10,000 visitors
Expanded exhibits and educational resources
Successful events like Get Outside & Get Together Day and Pollinator Fest
Greater reach for the Catskill Stewards Program, helping manage high-use destinations across the region
The return on this investment is clear: safer visitors, healthier lands, and stronger local economies.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
The Catskills deserve continued investment. As the state budget is developed, maintaining $250,000 for the Catskills Visitor Center as a dedicated line item in the EPF is critical.
We urge our supporters, partners, and community members to join us in speaking up for the Catskills. Please call your elected officials to thank them for supporting the EPF and the Catskills funding priorities championed by the Catskill Center and Catskill Park Coalition including the Catskills Visitor Center — and remind them that protecting our environment must remain a top priority.
Together, we can ensure that the Catskills Visitor Center remains a welcoming gateway for generations to come.