There is sad news for the State Parks System of New York: A proposed 20 million dollar budget cut and the almost sure closure of 41 state parks and 14 historical sites.

About 25 percent parks and  nearly 50 percent of historical sites will be affected. Another 23 parks and one historic site will also have service reductions, in the chimerical hope that these cut-backs will lower costs and positively impact the budget deficit .

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.

Policy Fails to Consider Broad Economic Impact

Such policies come with consequences. The outdoor and eco-tourism economy will be threatened and jobs across the state will be lost. As a result, tax revenue will in turn be lost as revenue in the private sector shrinks.

“News of the closings will devastate many communities as their citizens rely on parks for affordable, close to home recreation and their businesses rely on parks to bring in revenue,” said Robin Dropkin, Executive Director of Parks & Trails New York, a statewide advocacy organization.

According to a 2009 report, state parks and historic sites generate $1.9 billion annually in economic activity statewide. Visitors from outside the community account for about 40% of that activity--visitors and money communities will lose if parks are forced to close.

Additionally, state parks and historic sites account for 20,000 non-park jobs statewide. These are longterm, sustainable jobs that will last as long as our state invests in its parks system. The investment in State Parks is a good one; for every dollar the state spends on parks, it gets back $5 dollars in economic activity.

New York's Governor, David A. Paterson, in a statement had this to say about why the parks must be shut down: "The unfortunate reality of closing an $8.2 billion deficit is that there is less money available for many worthy services and programs. 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."

According to Parks & Trails New York, the State Parks budget is only one-quarter of one percent of the total state budget. The savings to the state from closing the 57 parks is estimated to be $6.3 million.

“The miniscule savings from closing 57 parks—four thousandths of one percent of the total state budget— is laughable and pales in comparison to the hardship parks closings will cause New Yorkers, both in spirit and in pocket,” said Dropkin.

Write Gov. Paterson a letter telling him how important it is to do whatever we can to keep the parks open and managed!

“Even during the Great Depression parks remained open. They’re sending back reservation money, so that’s a pretty good sign that they’re not crying wolf,” said Dropkin.

In addition to economic benefits, state parks preserve wildlife habitat, provide an escape for millions of New Yorkers and protect the state’s heritage for future generations. The NYS Park System is the oldest and one of the most historic state park systems in the nation. And it needs your help!

In case there is any question as to the impact, you can see specific recommended closures and service reductions 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 Historic Site (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
•     Schoharie Crossing Historic Site (Montgomery)--Close Historic Site
•     Schuyler Mansion Historic Site (Albany)--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
•     Wilson-Tuscarora State Park (Niagara)--Close Park
•     Woodlawn Beach State Park (Erie)-- Close Park
•     Regionwide--Reduce interpretive programs

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