JasonW
February 21st, 2010, 04:37 PM
NY lists state parks, historic sites set to close
By MICHAEL VIRTANEN
ALBANY, N.Y.
More than a third of state parks and nearly a half of historic sites would be closed or have reduced services in the next fiscal year under a recommendation from parks officials to help combat New York's $8.2 billion budget deficit.
The Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation said Friday it's also proposing $4 million in fee increases. It didn't specify which areas would be targeted by the increases.
In all, officials have recommended shutting 41 of the state's 178 parks and reducing services at 23. They have also proposed closing 14 of the state's 35 historic sites and reducing services at one.
Some of the most popular sites would remain open and staffed. Jones Beach on Long Island would close its west swimming pool and eliminate July 4 fireworks. Niagara Falls State Park would reduce its interpretive programs, which include guides and organizing group visits.
"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," Gov. David Paterson said. The final budget is subject to revisions by the Legislature and ongoing negotiations.
Parks spokeswoman Eileen Larrabee said Friday that officials would review each closed park to determine whether the public could still visit the state-owned land. Parking areas and restrooms would likely be closed, with no plowing, mowing or trail maintenance and gates down across some entrances, she said.
"There are clearly some safety issues if there's no parking," Larrabee said. "Finding the exact access, we're going to have to look at park by park."
Planned closings include Orient Beach Park on Long Island, Bayswater Point Park in Queens, Schunnemunk and Trump parks in the lower Hudson Valley and Thacher State Park outside Albany.
Park closings in central New York and the Finger Lakes region would include Chittenango Falls, Beechwood and the public swimming area at Buttermilk Falls. Seven state parks and one historic site in the Thousand Islands region would close. In western New York, the Oak Orchard Marine, Joseph Davis, Woodlawn Beach and Long Point parks would be shuttered.
The closures and reductions would begin in the next fiscal year, starting April 1.
The agency faced a proposed $29 million cut in its operating budget, with an estimated $6.3 million in savings from the closings and reductions. Administration officials also propose using $5 million from the state's Environmental Protection Fund for parks operations.
Robin Dropkin, executive director of Parks & Trails New York, an advocacy group, said a recent study showed the parks and historic sites generate an estimated $1.9 billion in annual economic activity, about 40 percent from visitors coming from outside the communities. She said the "minuscule" saving from closing parks is "laughable and pales in comparison to the hardship parks closings will cause New Yorkers, both in spirit and in pocket."
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9DVFUO82.htm
By MICHAEL VIRTANEN
ALBANY, N.Y.
More than a third of state parks and nearly a half of historic sites would be closed or have reduced services in the next fiscal year under a recommendation from parks officials to help combat New York's $8.2 billion budget deficit.
The Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation said Friday it's also proposing $4 million in fee increases. It didn't specify which areas would be targeted by the increases.
In all, officials have recommended shutting 41 of the state's 178 parks and reducing services at 23. They have also proposed closing 14 of the state's 35 historic sites and reducing services at one.
Some of the most popular sites would remain open and staffed. Jones Beach on Long Island would close its west swimming pool and eliminate July 4 fireworks. Niagara Falls State Park would reduce its interpretive programs, which include guides and organizing group visits.
"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," Gov. David Paterson said. The final budget is subject to revisions by the Legislature and ongoing negotiations.
Parks spokeswoman Eileen Larrabee said Friday that officials would review each closed park to determine whether the public could still visit the state-owned land. Parking areas and restrooms would likely be closed, with no plowing, mowing or trail maintenance and gates down across some entrances, she said.
"There are clearly some safety issues if there's no parking," Larrabee said. "Finding the exact access, we're going to have to look at park by park."
Planned closings include Orient Beach Park on Long Island, Bayswater Point Park in Queens, Schunnemunk and Trump parks in the lower Hudson Valley and Thacher State Park outside Albany.
Park closings in central New York and the Finger Lakes region would include Chittenango Falls, Beechwood and the public swimming area at Buttermilk Falls. Seven state parks and one historic site in the Thousand Islands region would close. In western New York, the Oak Orchard Marine, Joseph Davis, Woodlawn Beach and Long Point parks would be shuttered.
The closures and reductions would begin in the next fiscal year, starting April 1.
The agency faced a proposed $29 million cut in its operating budget, with an estimated $6.3 million in savings from the closings and reductions. Administration officials also propose using $5 million from the state's Environmental Protection Fund for parks operations.
Robin Dropkin, executive director of Parks & Trails New York, an advocacy group, said a recent study showed the parks and historic sites generate an estimated $1.9 billion in annual economic activity, about 40 percent from visitors coming from outside the communities. She said the "minuscule" saving from closing parks is "laughable and pales in comparison to the hardship parks closings will cause New Yorkers, both in spirit and in pocket."
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9DVFUO82.htm