Article By Debbie Kwiatoski | Posted on 2010-03-03 10:10:05
State officials, including Gov. David Paterson and countless state administrators and legislators, had no problem extolling the economic, recreational and Quality of Life benefits state parks and historic sites bring to New York State when they cut the ribbon on the Walkway on the Hudson in October. Even then, it was common knowledge that New York’s finances were in free fall - a victim of legislative bickering and years of free-spending, as well as the recession that rocked Wall Street, Main Street and every street in between. But if anyone there that fine fall day had even an inkling that the Walkway, not to mention Minnewaska, Fort Montgomery, Olana, Bear Mountain and approximately half of the state’s 178 public parks and historic sites would be slated either for closing or reduced hours four months later, they didn’t let on. Yet, if the governor’s proposal to close or limit public access to the popular sites stands, that is exactly what will happen.
“In an environment where we have to cut funding for schools, hospitals and nursing home, and social services, no area of state spending, including parks and historic sites, could be exempt from reductions,” said Gov. David Paterson.
The final budget is subject to negotiations with the state legislature. If the parks are closed or the hours reduced, it would take effect on April 1st.
“I don’t think it’s a done deal yet,” Dutchess County Tourism Director Mary Kay Vrba stressed, adding that keeping the parks and other historic sites open for the spring and summer tourist season is going to be “high on my list of things to discuss” when she, along with other regional tourism leaders go to Albany to lobby state legislators this week.
The argument will not be centered on tree huggers, twitchers, or the needs of history buffs for their seasonal fix. The discussion, Vrba stressed, is at its essence an economic one. Closing down state parks and historic sites will cost the state far more in lost revenue and new unemployment claims than it will ever save in operational expenses. Even more scary is the fact that – if the state’s image as a great place to come to recreate (and spend money) is tarnished for even a year, it will take several years – and lots of marketing money – to rebuild its reputation.
Last year, the state parks service budget was $155 million.
“Tourism brought $53 billion into New York State in 2008,” said Vrba, suggesting that getting that kind of return on investment was better than anything Wall Street was returning.
“And that doesn’t just happen. If we lose it (tourism), it’s going to cause even more of a marketing problem than we already have.”
She is referring to the fact that the state also somehow “neglected” to actually allocate its promised matching funds for tourism marketing in the 2009 – 2010 state budget. In practical terms that means that – just as the energy to rev up tourism marketing campaigns throughout the Northeast and beyond needs to happen, there is very little money left to do it with.
“We are leveraging what little is left from previous years,” said Vrba, “and there is some money coming from Dutchess County (her area), but it’s not nearly going to be enough.”
Even if the state legislature follow through on funds promised for 2010 – 2011, she added, that money will not truly become available until October…a little late for the state’s biggest tourism season.
Losing the state parks and historic sites – on top of losing the marketing money – would be nothing short of watching the state shoot the goose laying what few golden eggs New York could count on to help keep revenues coming into Albany. It could also really have a devastating effect on unemployment – and not just for laid-off state parks workers.
Tourists do things like buy gasoline, souvenirs and lots of things at local gift shops. They patronize local restaurants and B&Bs. They buy coffee and snacks and, in season, much of the state’s agricultural harvests….there are, in fact, few industries that will not be affected if the state loses its tourism base.
“Did you know that, between 1999 and 2009, employment related to tourism in New York State grew by 22.8 percent, “asked Vrba. “During that same period, employment in the private sector grew by 5.9 percent.”
Even if the parks don’t close, the state is considering adding $4 million in fee increases to the sites that are left open.
Robin Dropkin, executive director of Parks and Trails New York, a non-profit advocacy group, commented that the money the state would save by closing the parks is “miniscule…. laughable and pales in comparison to the hardship parks closing will cause New Yorkers, both in spirit and in pocket.”
So far, several state legislators, including State Assemblyman Kevin Cahill (D-KINGSTON), have vowed to fight the move.
“After viewing the most recent additions to the list of parks and historic sites targeted for closure, I am outraged that the administration is continuing to play politics with institutions so integral to our regional character and economy. New Yorkers depend on these places for our educational and recreational fulfillment, and these sites provide a sense of connection and pride in our communities,” said Cahill (who provided the Business Journal with the following updated - as of February 24th - proposed list of closing).
Palisades Region
Knox Headquarters Historic Site (Orange) Close Historic Site
Fort Montgomery Historic Site (Orange) Close Historic Site
Harriman State Park – Sebago (Orange) Close Park Area
Harriman SP– Anthony Wayne (Orange) Close Park Area
High Tor State Park (Rockland) Close Park
High Tor Pool (Rockland) Close Pool
Minnewaska State Park (Ulster) Close Park
New Windsor Cantonment SHS (Orange) Close Historic Site
Schunnemunk State Park (Orange) Close Park
Senate House State Historic Site (Ulster) Close Historic Site
Stony Point State Historic Site (Orange) Close Historic Site
Tallman Mountain State Park (Rockland) Close Park
Tallman Mountain Pool (Rockland) Close Pool
Washington’s Headquarters SHS (Orange) Close Historic Site
Bear Mountain State Park (Orange) Close Swimming Pool
Harriman SP – Group Camps (Orange) Reduce Maintenance
Purple Heart Hall of Honor (Orange) Close 2 Days per Week
Rockland Lake State Park (Orange) Close Pool 2 Days per Week
Taconic Region
Clermont State Historic Site (Columbia) Close Historic Site
Donald J. Trump State Park (Westchester) Close Park
Fahnestock State Park (Putnam) Close Park
John Jay Homestead Historic Site (Westchester) Close Historic Site
Philipse Manor Hall Historic Site (Westchester) Close Historic Site
Staatsburgh State Historic Site (Dutchess) Close Historic Site
Taconic State Park – Rudd Pond (Dutchess) Close Rudd Pond Area
Wonder Lake State Park (Putnam) Close Park
FDR (Roosevelt) State Park (Westchester) Reduce Swimming Pool Season
James Baird State Park (Dutchess) Reduce Golf Course Season
Hudson Highlands State Park (Putnam) Close Arden Point Area
Lake Taghkanic State Park (Columbia) Reduce Swimming Season
Mills Norrie State Park (Dutchess) Reduce Golf Course Season
Olana State Historic Site (Columbia) Close 2 Days per Week
Rockefeller State Park Preserve (Westchester) Eliminate Interpretive Programs
Taconic Outdoor Education Center (Putnam) Eliminate Interpretive Programs
Walkway Over the Hudson (Dutchess) Close Park Dec 1st to March 31st; and
Close 2 Days per Week April – Nov
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
Cutlines – Knox Headquarters, Olana, the Kingston Senate House, Minnewaska State Park; these are just a few of the parks and historic sites on the chopping block this year.
