REALLY bad news - Governor's list of NY park closures

[Peakbagr]

For Immediate Release: February 19, 2010
Contact: Marissa Shorenstein | [email protected] | 518.474.8418 | 212.681.4640


STATEMENTS FROM GOVERNOR DAVID A. PATERSON AND COMMISSIONER CAROL 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 Island

Brookhaven State Park Suffolk Close Park
Bethpage State Park Suffolk Eliminate Winter Sports; Reduce picnic area and polo field
Caleb Smith State Park Preserve Suffolk Close Park
Cold Spring Harbor State Park Suffolk Close Park
Connetquot River State Park Suffolk Close Weekdays
Heckscher State Park Suffolk Close Swimming Pool
Jones Beach State Park Nassau Close West Swimming Pool
Eliminate July 4th fireworks
Montauk Downs State Park Suffolk Close Swimming Pool
Nissequogue River State Park Suffolk Close Park
Orient Beach State Park Suffolk Close Park
Trail View State Park Suffolk Close Park

New York City Region

Bayswater Point State Park Queens Close Park
Riverbank State Park New York Reduce Operating Hours
Close Outdoor Swimming Pool;
Eliminate Seniors Classes, and
Community/Cultural Events
Palisades Region

Fort Montgomery Historic Site Orange Close Historic Site
Harriman SP– Anthony Wayne Orange Close Park Area
Harriman SP – Group Camps Orange Reduce Maintenance
High Tor State Park Rockland Close Pool
Knox Headquarters Historic Site Orange Close Historic Site
New Windsor Cantonment SHS Orange Close Historic Site
Schunnemunk State Park Orange Close Park
Stony Point State Historic Site Orange Close Historic Site
Tallman Mountain State Park Rockland Close Pool

Taconic Region

Donald J. Trump State Park Westchester Close Park
FDR (Roosevelt) State Park Westchester Reduce Swimming Pool Season
Hudson Highlands State Park Putnam Close Arden Point Area
James Baird State Park Dutchess Reduce Golf Course Season
Mills Norrie State Park Dutchess Reduce Golf Course Season
Olana State Historic Site Columbia Close 2 Days per Week
Philipse Manor Hall Historic Site Westchester Close Historic Site
Rockefeller State Park Preserve Westchester Eliminate Interpretive Programs
Taconic Outdoor Education Center Putnam Eliminate Interpretive Programs
Taconic State Park – Rudd Pond Dutchess Close Rudd Pond Area
Wonder Lake State Park Putnam Close Park

Saratoga-Capital Region

Bennington Battlefield State Park Rensselaer Close Historic Site
Hudson River Islands State Park Rensselaer Close Park
John Boyd Thacher State Park Albany Close Park
John Brown Farm Historic Site Essex Close Historic Site
Johnson Hall State Historic Site Fulton Close Historic Site
Max V. Shaul State Park Schoharie Close Park
Schodack Island State Park Rensselaer Close Park
Schuyler Mansion Historic Site Albany Close Historic Site
Schoharie Crossing Historic Site Schoharie Close Historic Site

Central Region

Chittenango Falls State Park Madison Close Park
Clark Reservation State Park Onondaga Close Park
Fort Ontario State Historic Site Oswego Close Historic Site
Helen McNitt State Park Madison Close Park
Herkimer Home Historic Site Herkimer Close Historic Site
Hunts Pond State Park Chenango Close Park
Oquaga Creek State Park Broome Close Park
Old Erie Canal State Park Onondaga Close Park
Oriskany Battlefield/Steuben SHS Oneida Close Historic Site
Pixley Falls State Park Oneida Close Park
Robert Riddell State Park Delaware Close Park
Selkirk Shores State Park Oswego Close Public Swimming Beach

Finger Lakes Region

Beechwood State Park Wayne Close Park
Bonavista State Park Seneca Close Park
Chimney Bluffs State Park Wayne Close Park
Newtown Battlefield State Park Chemung Close Park
Springbrook Greens State Park Cayuga Close Park
Two Rivers State Park Tioga Close Park
Buttermilk Falls State Park Tompkins Close Public Swimming Area
Seneca Lake State Park Seneca Close Lake Swimming Beach
Stony Brook State Park Steuben Close Public Swimming Area

Thousand Islands Region

Canoe Island State Park Jefferson Close Park
Cedar Island State Park Jefferson Close Park
Eel Weir State Park St. Lawrence Close Park
Keewaydin State Park Jefferson Close Park
Macomb Reservation State Park Clinton Close Park
Mary Island State Park Jefferson Close Park
Point Au Roche State Park Clinton Close Park
Sackets Harbor State Historic Site Jefferson Close Historic Site

Genesee Region

Hamlin Beach State Park Monroe Close Swimming Beach 3 Days per Week
Oak Orchard State Marine Park Orleans Close Park
Regionwide Multiple Eliminate Camper Recreation Program

Niagara Region

Joseph Davis State Park Niagara Close Park
Knox Farm State Park Erie Close Park
Niagara Falls State Park Niagara Reduce Interpretive Programs
Wilson-Tuscarora State Park Niagara Close Park
Woodlawn Beach State Park Erie Close Park

Allegany Region

Allegany State Park Cattaraugus Close Quaker Area Swim Beach;
Close Quaker Cabins Area on December 1st
Eliminate Winter Trails Maintenance
Reduce Recreation Programs
Long Point State Park Chautauqua Close Park

 

[marty]

Ouch! Have been to many of the parks that will be fully or partially closed. There are two that hit especially hard:

I grew up in Elmira and have been to the Newtown Battlefield Reservation (aka, Sullivan's Monument) dozens of time.

I have also swum at Buttermilk Falls many times. Hard to believe they will be closing what used to be an extremely popular swimming area.

Very sad.

Marty

 

[Tom Rankin]

Wow, that's a lot of closures!

 

[Stan]

I hope they are willing to allow community groups, neighborhood associations, non-profits and other credible entities to takes over certain programs, facilities or even a whole park. That would take another level of bureaucracy but I expect the savings will not come form full time employees as it will from seasonal employees and contracts so staffing may be available to coordinate and administer this anyway.

You can bet there would be opposition to this, even when it is a no-brainer that benefits everyone, because public employee unions will resist it as a form of "privatization".

Still, things could get worse. The current way of doing a lot of things is not sustainable ... look at Jersey ... so extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures ... or in the words of a former entrepreneurial employer, "problems create opportunities."

Change comes very hard.

 

[Craig]

Given the budgetary cuts I wonder if NY will consider adopting the NH model of charging for rescues in the Adirondack Park.

 

[NorthShore]

They are going to have to double the staff to keep people out of some of those parks. This totally smacks of "further gimmicks or avoidance behavior".

 

[RoySwkr]

Any idea what closure means? In NH a "closed" park is usually still open to recreation but doesn't offer amenities.

 

[Mark Schaefer]

Any idea what closure means? In NH a "closed" park is usually still open to recreation but doesn't offer amenities.

It is likely to be similar to NH. The details are yet to be defined and will be on a park by park basis, per the following statement:

State parks spokeswoman Eileen Larrabee said officials would review each closed park to determine whether the public still could visit the state-owned land. Parking areas and restrooms probably would be closed, though, and there would be no plowing, mowing or trail maintenance, and gates would be 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.”

Some other observations from this and other news articles: At present this is merely a proposed budget by the Governor. The proposed closings and reductions represent a savings of $6.3 million. Including the cuts the proposed 2010-11 budget for the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) is $230 million. There are also additional administrative cuts within OPRHP compared to their $263 million budget in the prior year. So for a rather limited reduction in OPRHP's budget we have draconian closures and reductions at 64 of 213 total properties overseen by OPRHP. The impact of the closures and reductions does not appear commensurate with the budget savings.

Further the savings represent less than 1/1000 of the current 2010-2011 state budget deficit of $8.2 billion in the proposed $132 billion annual budget. While one would rightly expect across the board cuts in all state departments including some closures/reductions within the state park system, one would not expect this much for such a minimal savings. Given that there appears to be widespread opposition within the State Legislature to these proposed closures within the Governor's own majority party, these extensive closures in the state parks are unlikely to be enacted by the legislature as proposed. Nonetheless the New Yorkers among us should voice our concerns with our local representatives.

 

[coldfeet]

Taconic Outdoor Education Center Putnam Eliminate Interpretive Programs

I'm taking app 70 students there in April for our 2 night 3 day trip....I've been taking students there since 1996 minus 2 years....our cost went up this year from $70 to app $135 per student....state didn't pay for buses for the first time in 29 years....I hope they don't close down the 8 cabins that we use....students work in cooperative groups doing the "project adventure" team building skills.....I'd rather sacrifice some adult activities and not take away from the kids....that will leave them with just battery games I'm sure the reading scores will never go up.....I'll call tomorrow and talk to the administrator in charge...this is sad news....

 

[hikingmaineac]

Taconic Outdoor Education Center Putnam Eliminate Interpretive Programs

This is definitely not good! I used to work there and would definitely agree that it would be a shame to see such a fine program be eliminated.

 

[beverly]

Parks and Trails New York - Save our State

Save 0ur State Parks Day - March 3, 2010

55 parks will close unless you speak out

Meet, call, write, or e-mail your legislators on March 3 - Save Our State Parks Day

Imagine if 56 million people-the number of park visitors last year-contacted their legislators to protest park closings.

If we all act, we can win the battle to keep parks open.

Please be part of this historic day.

Here's how:
• Come to a rally in Albany at noon
• Visit legislators - don't worry, you'll be part of a team
• If you can't come to Albany, you can still participate by calling or emailing your assembly member and senetor on March 3 - let's tie up their switchboards and flood their inboxes!
We'll be sending you more details next week. But for today, please put March 3 on your calendar.

Here's the tentative schedule for Save our State Parks Day on March 3

9:00-9:15 Arrive & enjoy coffee and bagels
9:15-9:45 Orientation
10:00 - 11:00 Meetings with legislators
11:00 Press conference
12:00 Save Our State Parks Rally at the Capitol
1:00 - 3:00 Meetings with legislators
3:00 to 4:00 Debriefing

http://www.ptny.org/

 

[BlackSpruce]

It's very strange doing as governments talk more and more of eating healthy and doing exercices to close parks. Sort of like the Olympic being mostly sponsored by McDonald and CocaCola... short-sighted little savings that will cost bib big big in the end!

 

[NorthShore]

It's very strange doing as governments talk more and more of eating healthy and doing exercices to close parks. Sort of like the Olympic being mostly sponsored by McDonald and CocaCola... short-sighted little savings that will cost bib big big in the end!

It's a power play to try and coerce the state into letting NYS redirect money from the voter approved Environmental Protection Fund. It is a disgrace.

Some of the facilities they are threatening to close locally are revenue generating and usually packed in-season. Closing some of the others will mean one less garbage can to empty once a week. I'm not an insider, but its really hard to see where the net savings come from in the overall plan. Add to that the diminishing value of an Empire State Pass and you can probably factor some more revenue loss into the calculation.

Plus, as you said, even if there were some real savings they are short-sighted.

 

[spicedoubt]

Taconic Outdoor Education Center Putnam Eliminate Interpretive Programs

I'm taking app 70 students there in April for our 2 night 3 day trip....I've been taking students there since 1996 minus 2 years....our cost went up this year from $70 to app $135 per student....state didn't pay for buses for the first time in 29 years....I hope they don't close down the 8 cabins that we use....students work in cooperative groups doing the "project adventure" team building skills.....I'd rather sacrifice some adult activities and not take away from the kids....that will leave them with just battery games I'm sure the reading scores will never go up.....I'll call tomorrow and talk to the administrator in charge...this is sad news....

If they close these parks and the cabins or campsites in which they rent out, wouldn't they be losing money?

 

[MattC]

Here is a link to the ADK action alert on the park closure proposal:

http://www.adk.org/issues/Park_Closure_Action_Alert.aspx

The list they have linked is different from the one Alan originally posted and it includes Minnewaska SP, beloved to so many locals and visitors to the Shanwangunk Ridge. I wonder how much $$$ New Paltz small businesses would lose if Minnewaska were to close.

Matt

 

[askus3]

Schunnemunk Mountain

I hike up Schunnemunk Mountain alot. What does closure mean? How does the closing of a hiking mecca save money? What does the state do there that costs money? Since the state purchased the land to make this a state park, I have seen no changes to the landscape. The NY/NJ Trail Conference maintains the trails, so why close something that should cost nothing to operate? If there is a ranger employed to oversee the area and they need to eliminate a wage, I feel sorry for the employee, but I am sure they can shift his work location or increase his work area, but close the area to hikers makes no sense. I also assume there are other areas on the list that fall into the same category. State areas that have no $ sign expenditure to operate and yet they deem it necessary to save money by closing the place down. It is a shame that the state has all these lands and now does not want to let the public use them.

 

[askus3]

Minnewaska

So if Minnewaska State Park is not listed, here is one area that could save some money is the lifeguard expenditure at Lake Awosting. I have no idea why the state feels it needs to put a lifeguard on duty at a lake that you can only hike, bike or horseback into a couple of miles. Let it go like all the other lakes on state lands in remote areas - swim at your own risk or no swimming and look the other way if anybody does.

 

[Tom Rankin]

Reversal!

All state parks are open!

 

[SAR-EMT40]

Any idea what closure means? In NH a "closed" park is usually still open to recreation but doesn't offer amenities.

This is the same question I have. What does it mean. I know they aren't packing up the trees, so what would it mean. Just that I need to hike responsibly because the rangers won't be there. That is fine with me. I need to swim at my own risk. Again, I prefer that. I don't know what a closed park means.

Keith

 

[lattinhill]

" All state parks are open " ? This press release dated 5/28 seems odd .
We drove by Devil's Tombstone on Friday and it was closed . We stayed at Colgate Lake where we talked at length with a DEC Ranger and he made no mention of any change in the parks closures .

Dave