The purpose of the state recreational boating safety program is to encourage greater state participation and uniformity in boating safety efforts, and particularly to permit the states to assume the…

The Department of Homeland Security US Coast Guard awarded the Recreation and Historic Preservation New York State Office of Parks $2,865,699 on October 1, 2025, under the Boating Safety Financial Assistance program (CFDA 97.012).

The recipient will use funds to support recreational boating safety activities in New York over the three-year performance period through September 30, 2028. Eligible uses include providing facilities, equipment, and supplies for boating safety education and law enforcement; training personnel in boating safety skills and enforcement; delivering public boating safety education programs and lectures to the boating community and public school system; acquiring, constructing, or repairing public access sites for recreational boaters; conducting boating safety inspections and marine casualty investigations; establishing and maintaining emergency and search-and-rescue facilities and operations; establishing waterway markers and navigation aids; and operating state recreational vessel numbering and titling programs.

The program distributes formula grant funds to designated state agencies to implement boating safety efforts that minimize loss of life, personal injury, and property damage in recreational boating. The assistance type is a formula grant.

The purpose of the state recreational boating safety program is to encourage greater state participation and uniformity in boating safety efforts, and particularly to permit the states to assume the greater share of boating safety education, assistance, and enforcement activities. Federal funds provided for a state's boating safety program may be used for any of the following expenses. 1. Providing facilities, equipment, and supplies for boating safety education and law enforcement, including purchase, operation, maintenance, and repair. 2. Training personnel in skills related to boating safety and to the enforcement of boating safety laws and regulations. 3. Providing public boating safety education, including educational programs and lectures, to the boating community and the public school system. 4. Acquiring, constructing, or repairing public access sites used primarily by recreational boaters. 5. Conducting boating safety inspections and marine casualty investigations. 6. Establishing and maintaining emergency or search and rescue facilities, and providing emergency or search and rescue assistance. 7. Establishing and maintaining waterway markers and other appropriate aids to navigation. 8. Providing state recreational vessel numbering and titling programs.