The Empire Page

The Topic: Gov. Paterson has proposed closing more than 50 state parks to save $11 million.   Although this seems like an insignificant drop in the $9+ billion deficit bucket that New York has to fill, an argument can be made in favor of his concept because many of those parks do not bring in sufficient user fees to cover their operating costs. 

I believe that our state park system ought to bring in sufficient user fees to cover operating costs, even if that means raising fees at those parks which today are losing money. 

I would also institute a bidding system for popular campsites.  As a result people would likely have to pay more for a popular campground site for the 4th of July and Labor Day than for other weeks. 

And I would consolidate park operations that are currently divided between two state agencies -- the departments of Environmental Conservation and Parks and Recreation.

Responses:

Carol Ash, Commissioner NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation: New York faces a fiscal crisis of unprecedented magnitude. Closing a $9 billion deficit means less is available for many worthy services. When schools, hospitals, nursing homes, and social services are being cut, no area of State spending, including parks and historic sites, is exempt from reductions.

In response to a proposed $29 million Executive Budget cut, State Parks has had to take the dramatic step of announcing a series of park closures. This cut represents a 16 percent reduction and is on top of recurring cuts implemented over the past two years. Since 85 percent of our operating budget is spent on operating 213 state parks and historic sites, we have no choice but to cut where the money is spent.  In February, we released a list of 55 state parks and historic sites to close, along with cutbacks at 24 additional parks, which would generate net savings of $6 million. The list of parks is available here: http://www.nysparks.state.ny.us/newsroom/press-releases/release.aspx?r=776

Several other steps – such as shifting $5 million from the Environmental Protection Fund, continued attrition of permanent staff, reductions to seasonal staffing budgets, eliminating all vehicle purchases, and canceling our Park Police Academy for the third straight year – have been identified. 

Higher fees are another unavoidable response to the challenges of the park system. We implemented $4 million in fees this year – on top of $6.5 million in new fees last year – to avoid additional park closings. The new fees are outlined here:  http://www.nysparks.state.ny.us/newsroom/press-releases/release.aspx?r=781 Many of these fees reflect market forces. For example, greens fees at the Bethpage Black Course, home of the 2009 U.S. Open Golf Championship, are significantly higher than other courses because of the high demand for its tee times. We’ve raised fees at oceanfront beaches and flagship parks because attract larger numbers of visitors. And there are surcharges at campgrounds on weekends and holidays, for prime waterfront sites and out-of-state visitors. However, a critical part of our mission is providing affordable places for outdoor recreation for all families in these struggling times. Ultimately, raising fees is not the only answer. Park revenue covers less than half of our operating costs, and there is a limit to how much fees can rise without pricing families out of their own parks.

Park closings are a difficult step, but it is my hope that these closures are temporary. For 125 years, the State Park System has contributed to the well-being of our citizens and to economically vibrant local communities, and it will continue to do so long after this economic crisis is over.

 

Douglas Boettner, Empire Page Columnist: This is somewhat of an emotional issue for me. I came from a lower middle class family and state parks were the mainstay of our family gatherings. It was very affordable and the facilities were always available and in good order. I still to this day like to visit state parks to do some walking and reminiscing. Most of my time over the years was spent at the following state parks: John Boyd Thacher; Saratoga Spa; Grafton Lakes; Cherry Plain; Taconic; James Baird; and Jones Beach.>

Parks in general are created for the enjoyment of the citizens. Every citizen regardless of socio-economic background should be able to have reasonable access to all state parks. Entrance fees and use fees should be kept at levels that will assure they do not preclude any citizen from access to a park.

I am not advocating that every state park that is currently operating should remain operating through these rough economic times. I believe the fiscally prudent thing to do is to close the lesser used parks, or curtail some operations at the parks. For example, swimming pools are a luxury in my opinion, even though I learned to dive at Thacher Park. There are usually municipal pools that are available in most communities for nominal fees.

Picnic areas, hiking trails and restrooms should be preserved however. Families should have a place to go to enjoy the great outdoors and the great scenic beauty of our parks in New York State. The same holds true for our system of national parks. The same principles apply.

Parks should be principally funded by tax dollars and the special services provided at a given park should be funded through reasonable use fees paid by the visitors to the park.

 

Greg Hitchcock, Journalist: There has been much discussion of closing our state parks due to the state’s budget crisis, but I would like to address the closing of our state historic sites. The closing of a number of state historic sites is indicative of the lack of the general public’s knowledge of our heritage left by our ancestors. I agree that some should be closed due to the decreasing numbers of visitors to the sites, but I am sadly disheartened by this. People should remember and give thanks to those who have given so much of themselves to future generations of Americans.

As an example, when I walk the fields of Gettysburg, PA, I am reminded of the great sacrifices they gave in fighting for our liberty and freedom. Likewise, when the state has to close sites such as John Brown’s Farm or Sir William Johnson’s Manor, I am filled with grief. If there was some way to reignite the passion and love of history in ourselves, especially our young people, we would be much better off for it. We would learn from our past and be rededicated to those that gave the last full measure of devotion.

 

Stuart Brody, Empire Page Columnist:  Parks should not be closed.  Here’s why:

 

Most New Yorkers never really get to see and feel the benefits of their tax dollars.  The most accessible means to experience the vitality of their state government are the state sponsored amenities around them.   Nothing reflects the public commitment to general well being as much as public parks.

 

Most New Yorkers, as Doug Boettner indicated in his comments (above), have a personal and meaningful memory connected with parks and the historical and natural heritage they preserve.  Other non-admission based offerings of government like festivals, parades, extension classes, visitors’ bureaus, museums and libraries are the glue, or really the honey, that holds our respect for a government committed to serving its people, as opposed to just taxing them.   

 

The uproar that these park closures has caused, for a mere $11M savings, when New Yorkers know that an equal amount is wasted or stolen every single day, is an insult which must weigh heavily on the internal scales of fairness with which every citizen judges their government.  

 

New York is in dire straits, and it is because hundreds of thousands of New York families are unemployed and suffering.  And for many of these families, now, and during the last great depression, a Sunday afternoon at a free public park can be the only refuge from seemingly inescapable financial pressures.  As New York State government veers toward a complete collapse in credibility, to many New Yorkers, closing this benefit off from the citizenry is the final unkind cut.