VALLEY COTTAGE, N.Y. — State Senator Bill Weber is scheduled to hold a press conference Saturday at Rockland Lake State Park to announce legislation that would dedicate the park’s Nature Center in honor of Rockland County organ donation advocate Lauren Shields.
The event is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, October 3, near the Nature Center at Parking Field #1 at Rockland Lake State Park.
Weber introduced Senate Bill S10666 in July. The legislation would dedicate the Nature Center to Shields and require the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to install and maintain signage recognizing her and providing information about organ donation.
Under the bill, signage would identify the facility as “The Nature Center Dedicated to Lauren Shields.” The legislation specifies that the dedication would be ceremonial and would not legally change the Nature Center’s official name. The bill is currently in the Senate Rules Committee.
Shields, a Stony Point resident, received a heart transplant when she was nine years old and later became an advocate for increasing organ and tissue donation in New York.
Her advocacy helped lead to the passage of Lauren’s Law, legislation sponsored by former State Senator David Carlucci and named in her honor. The law changed New York’s driver’s license and non-driver identification application process by requiring applicants to respond to the organ donor registry question rather than simply leaving the section unanswered.
Lauren’s Law was enacted in 2012 and took effect on October 3, 2013.
According to Weber’s legislation, Shields continued advocating for organ donation throughout her life, including work with LiveOnNY. She also received a kidney transplant from her mother in 2020. Shields died at age 26.
The proposed dedication is intended to create a permanent location where visitors can learn about Shields’ work and organ and tissue donation. Weber’s office said plans for the Nature Center would include informational signage and QR codes directing visitors to organ donation information and registration resources.
Shields’ family is expected to join Weber at Saturday’s announcement. Former State Senator David Carlucci, representatives from LiveOnNY and organ donation advocate and transplant recipient Roxanne Watson are also expected to attend.
Event Information:
Saturday, October 3, 2026, at 11 a.m.
Rockland Lake State Park, Parking Field #1 near the Nature Center
299 Rockland Lake Road, Valley Cottage
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