Governor Kathy Hochul has appointed Kathy Moser as Acting Commissioner of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Moser will serve in this role while awaiting confirmation by the New York State Senate, expected next year.
“Kathy Moser has the needed background, experience and commitment to public lands to lead New York’s Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation,” Governor Hochul said. “I want New Yorkers to get offline and get outside because we know nature has the ability to improve one’s mental health and overall wellbeing. I know Kathy understands this critical intersection of my policies to improve New Yorkers’ quality of life and environmental stewardship. This makes her the ideal person to lead this critical agency into the future.”
The Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation manages more than 250 parks, historic sites, recreational trails, golf courses, boat launches, and other facilities across New York State. In 2024, these sites saw a record 88 million visits.
“I appreciate the trust Governor Hochul is showing in me to lead this vital agency. I look forward to working with our dedicated team in promoting and protecting our beautiful state parks, campsites, and historic landmarks. Our vast system not only provides affordable relief for New Yorkers looking to take advantage of the outdoors or explore our historic treasures but is an economic driver by attracting tourists from across the country and world,” said Acting Commissioner Moser.
Moser most recently served as Chief Conservation and Policy Officer at the Open Space Institute (OSI), where she directed programs related to parks, stewardship, and government relations. Before that role began in June 2020, she was OSI’s Senior Vice President of Parks and Policy.
Earlier in her career, Moser was Deputy Commissioner for Natural Resources at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), overseeing areas such as Lands and Forests, Fish and Wildlife, and Marine Resources. She also held leadership positions at World Wildlife Fund as Managing Director for Strategic Initiatives; The Nature Conservancy in both its New York State office (Acting State Director) and International Program (Regional Director for Central America); served on boards including Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy; and participated with the New York League of Conservation Voters (Capital District).
Moser holds undergraduate and master’s degrees from Duke University in botany and forest productivity respectively. She served with the Peace Corps in Honduras, speaks Spanish fluently, is married with three daughters, lives in Albany, rows on the Hudson River early mornings, and enjoys bird watching.
