As you may know, New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation is proposing to drastically alter the operation of eleven state parks on Long Island due to budget cuts proposed by Governor David Paterson.
According to the proposal, the Office of Parks has recommended closing six State Parks in Suffolk County alone. They include: Brookhaven State Park; Caleb Smith State Park Preserve; Cold Spring Harbor State Park; Nissequogue River State Park; Orient Beach State Park; and Trail View State Park. Additionally, they have proposed service reductions at Bethpage State Park; Connetquot River State Park; Heckscher State Park; Jones Beach State Park; and Montauk Downs State Park.
While there is no question that our state needs to reduce spending, we should be targeting Medicaid fraud, the bloated state bureaucracy, and reversing the $13 billion increase in spending in last years’ budget….not closing our parks.
Long Island is home to some of the best parks and recreation facilities in the country and our 20 State Parks and historic sites currently attract nearly 20 million visitors annually. Whether its swimming, golf, picnics, camping or hiking – our parks are supposed to be a place where taxpayers can escape bad budget news – not be reminded of it.
The proposed changes would remove hundreds of jobs and have an impact on the tourism industry in our area. That will affect our area’s economy and that is not something our region needs right now.
Closing these parks is the wrong strategy at the wrong time. Please join Senator Flanagan in fighting to protect these valuable natural resources by joining the fight to protect our parks by filling out the information below:
According to the proposal, the Office of Parks has recommended closing six State Parks in Suffolk County alone. They include: Brookhaven State Park; Caleb Smith State Park Preserve; Cold Spring Harbor State Park; Nissequogue River State Park; Orient Beach State Park; and Trail View State Park. Additionally, they have proposed service reductions at Bethpage State Park; Connetquot River State Park; Heckscher State Park; Jones Beach State Park; and Montauk Downs State Park.
While there is no question that our state needs to reduce spending, we should be targeting Medicaid fraud, the bloated state bureaucracy, and reversing the $13 billion increase in spending in last years’ budget….not closing our parks.
Long Island is home to some of the best parks and recreation facilities in the country and our 20 State Parks and historic sites currently attract nearly 20 million visitors annually. Whether its swimming, golf, picnics, camping or hiking – our parks are supposed to be a place where taxpayers can escape bad budget news – not be reminded of it.
The proposed changes would remove hundreds of jobs and have an impact on the tourism industry in our area. That will affect our area’s economy and that is not something our region needs right now.
Closing these parks is the wrong strategy at the wrong time. Please join Senator Flanagan in fighting to protect these valuable natural resources by joining the fight to protect our parks by filling out the information below:
* Required
