Press release from Governor Patterson and Commissioner Ash:
The Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) today put forward a recommended list of closures and service reductions in order to achieve its 2010-11 agency savings target and help address the State’s historic fiscal difficulties.
Governor David A. Paterson issued the following statement:
"New York faces an historic fiscal crisis of unprecedented magnitude. It has demanded many difficult but necessary decisions to help ensure the fiscal integrity of our State. The unfortunate reality of closing an $8.2 billion deficit is that there is less money available for many worthy services and programs. In an environment when we have to cut funding to schools, hospitals, nursing homes, and social services, no area of State spending, including parks and historic sites, could be exempt from reductions. We cannot mortgage our State’s financial future through further gimmicks or avoidance behavior. Spending cuts, however difficult, are needed in order to put New York on the road to fiscal recovery. Going forward through the budget process, I look forward to a productive dialogue with the Legislature on parks and historic sites, as well as other issues."OPRHP Commissioner Carol Ash issued the following statement:
"The 2010-11 Executive Budget included reductions to every area of State spending. As such, the Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation has today put forward proposed closures and service reductions to meet its agency savings target. These actions were not recommended lightly, but they are necessary to address our State’s extraordinary fiscal difficulties."###
A fact sheet on the proposed closures and service reductions is included below:
The Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) today put forward a list of closures and service reductions in order to achieve its proposed 2010-11 agency savings target and help address the State’s historic fiscal difficulties. As part of a comprehensive plan to close an $8.2 billion deficit, the 2010-11 Executive Budget included necessary cost reductions to each executive State agency, as well as cuts to education, health care, social services, and every other area of State spending.
OPRHP’s plan includes the closure of 41 parks and 14 historic sites, and service reductions at 23 parks and 1 historic site.
The plan also assumes $4 million in park and historic site fee increases that will be identified at a later date, and the use of $5 million in funds from the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) to finance OPRHP operations. These two actions were part of the 21-day amendments to the Executive Budget and are intended to reduce the number of parks and historic sites subject to closures and service reductions.
Specific recommended closures and service reductions are detailed below:
Long IslandBrookhaven State Park
Suffolk
Close ParkBethpage State Park
Suffolk
Eliminate Winter Sports;
Reduce picnic area and polo fieldCaleb Smith State Park Preserve
Suffolk
Close ParkCold Spring Harbor State Park
Suffolk
Close ParkConnetquot River State Park
Suffolk
Close WeekdaysHeckscher State Park
Suffolk
Close Swimming PoolJones Beach State Park
Nassau
Close West Swimming Pool;
Eliminate July 4th fireworksMontauk Downs State Park
Suffolk
Close Swimming PoolNissequogue River State Park
Suffolk
Close ParkOrient Beach State Park
Suffolk
Close ParkTrail View State Park
Suffolk
Close ParkNew York City Region
Bayswater Point State Park
Queens
Close ParkRiverbank State Park
New York
Reduce Operating Hours;
Close Outdoor Swimming Pool;
Eliminate Seniors Classes;
and Community/Cultural EventsPalisades Region
Fort Montgomery Historic Site
Orange
Close Historic SiteHarriman SP– Anthony Wayne
Orange
Close Park AreaHarriman SP – Group Camps
Orange
Reduce MaintenanceHigh Tor State Park
Rockland
Close PoolKnox Headquarters Historic Site
Orange
Close Historic SiteNew Windsor Cantonment SHS
Orange
Close Historic SiteSchunnemunk State Park
Orange
Close ParkStony Point State Historic Site
Orange
Close Historic SiteTallman Mountain State Park
Rockland
Close PoolTaconic Region
Donald J. Trump State Park
Westchester
Close ParkFDR (Roosevelt) State Park
Westchester
Reduce Swimming Pool SeasonHudson Highlands State Park
Putnam
Close Arden Point AreaJames Baird State Park
Dutchess
Reduce Golf Course SeasonMills Norrie State Park
Dutchess
Reduce Golf Course SeasonOlana State Historic Site
Columbia
Close 2 Days per WeekPhilipse Manor Hall Historic Site
Westchester
Close Historic SiteRockefeller State Park Preserve
Westchester
Eliminate Interpretive ProgramsTaconic Outdoor Education Center
Putnam
Eliminate Interpretive ProgramsTaconic State Park – Rudd Pond
Dutchess
Close Rudd Pond AreaWonder Lake State Park
Putnam
Close ParkSaratoga-Capital Region
Bennington Battlefield State Park
Rensselaer
Close Historic SiteHudson River Islands State Park
Rensselaer
Close ParkJohn Boyd Thacher State Park
Albany
Close ParkJohn Brown Farm Historic Site
Essex
Close Historic SiteJohnson Hall State Historic Site
Fulton
Close Historic SiteMax V. Shaul State Park
Schoharie
Close ParkSchodack Island State Park
Rensselaer
Close ParkSchoharie Crossing Historic Site
Schoharie
Close Historic SiteSchuyler Mansion Historic Site
Albany
Close Historic SiteCentral Region
Chittenango Falls State Park
Madison
Close ParkClark Reservation State Park
Onondaga
Close ParkFort Ontario State Historic Site
Oswego
Close Historic SiteHelen McNitt State Park
Madison
Close ParkHerkimer Home Historic Site
Herkimer
Close Historic SiteHunts Pond State Park
Chenango
Close ParkOquaga Creek State Park
Broome
Close ParkOld Erie Canal State Park
Onondaga
Close ParkOriskany Battlefield/Steuben SHS
Oneida
Close Historic SitePixley Falls State Park
Oneida
Close ParkRobert Riddell State Park
Delaware
Close ParkSelkirk Shores State Park
Oswego
Close Public Swimming BeachFinger Lakes Region
Beechwood State Park
Wayne
Close ParkBonavista State Park
Seneca
Close ParkChimney Bluffs State Park
Wayne
Close ParkNewtown Battlefield State Park
Chemung
Close ParkSpringbrook Greens State Park
Cayuga
Close ParkTwo Rivers State Park
Tioga
Close ParkButtermilk Falls State Park
Tompkins
Close Public Swimming AreaSeneca Lake State Park
Seneca
Close Lake Swimming BeachStony Brook State Park
Steuben
Close Public Swimming AreaThousand Islands Region
Canoe Island State Park
Jefferson
Close ParkCedar Island State Park
Jefferson
Close ParkEel Weir State Park
St. Lawrence
Close ParkKeewaydin State Park
Jefferson
Close ParkMacomb Reservation State Park
Clinton
Close ParkMary Island State Park
Jefferson
Close ParkPoint Au Roche State Park
Clinton
Close ParkSackets Harbor State Historic Site
Jefferson
Close Historic SiteGenesee Region
Hamlin Beach State Park
Monroe
Close Swimming Beach 3 Days per WeekOak Orchard State Marine Park
Orleans
Close ParkRegionwide
Multiple
Eliminate Camper Recreation ProgramNiagara Region
Joseph Davis State Park
Niagara
Close ParkKnox Farm State Park
Erie
Close ParkNiagara Falls State Park
Niagara
Reduce Interpretive ProgramsWilson-Tuscarora State Park
Niagara
Close ParkWoodlawn Beach State Park
Erie
Close ParkAllegany Region
Allegany State Park
Cattaraugus
Close Quaker Area Swim Beach;
Close Quaker Cabins Area on December 1st;
Eliminate Winter Trails Maintenance;
Reduce Recreation ProgramsLong Point State Park
Chautauqua
Close Park
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{ 8 comments }
I think that it is completely ridiculous to close all of these state parks. I enjoy visiting them from time to time when I have the ability to, aside from work. Being a love of history of this great state of ours it is sad to hear news of such closings. Many times I have visited the Sackets Harbor Battlefield and it interests me more and more each time I go. I all can say is that the state government is making a huge mistake by eliminating these state parks. We are esentially removing apart of our state history as well as apart of our national history. This is history is supposed to be treasured by all. I would like the future generations of this state and the country that when they visit these sites that they take in all that they can. It is something unquie to our area and it makes me proud to be a resident of New York State and this country. In all that is right in this world of confusion and misunderstandings I hope the state will reconsider these closings.
Next step, sell park to developers.
Brian – I agree, which is why I am posting information about park closings on my blogs. It’s not just New York. Park closings have also occurred, are being planned, or are being considered in other states, including California, Arizona and Nevada.
I didn’t buy a NY luxury condo only to find out that the parks I like to frequent are closing. What happened to our tax dollars that are supposed to pay for these parks? Where has the money gone?
YOU ARE SO RIGHT WHAT DO THEY DO WITH ALL OF OUR TAXES….. THE LOTTERY WAS SUPPOSED TO GO FOR EDUCATION.. THAT’S IN THE TOILET…. LOTTERY SALES UP EDUCATION DOWN…NOW FAT CATS WIN PARKS LOSE… HEY PATTERSON WHAT’S NEXT?
This has outraged many residents of New York State. Some of the Finger Lakes parks are parks that many people frequent throughout the summer time. What happened to preserving mother nature and letting us enjoy all it’s offerings? It’s just ridiculous to close these!
We are taxed to death. Our treasured places are taken away. And what’s next?
We need to preserve our parks and keep them open for the public to enjoy!
.-= Finger Lakes Community´s last blog ..Panoramic View of a Vineyard, Naples Valley, Finger Lakes, New York State, USA Photographic Poster Print by Panoramic Images , 8×24 =-.
I agree with all the words above, it is outrageous closing all these parks. What could it possibly cost to maintain parks like Mary’s and Cedar Island. There is one bathroom and a little grass to mow. Can we still go on these Islands and camp or is the state going to post no trespassing signs and fine us for staying there? I’ll let you know:-) To think of all the money that goes to Albany, you know the lottery is just a river of cash going straight to Albany, it’s a win win for them, not us, you can see the greed through the advertisements and the new games they add, they know people see a new game and they will try it. I loved it when Paterson gave his staff a 17% raise. Well, let’s just do what we can do and vote out every incumbent!!!
Education is cut for the young; tuition is increased for the older child; tax cuts are proposed for the very wealthy and now they want to close State Parks? So are we only to work, educate our own children, pay exorbitant fees for medical bills and pay taxes to the state and then have no low cost places to go for vacation? Keep the parks open!
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