New York State would close Fort Ontario and 54 other state parks and historic sites to save money, under a plan released today.
The first Fort Ontario was built in Oswego in 1755.
Paul Lear, site manager, said he had been notified by the state Parks Department about the plan, but said he could not comment on it. He referred comments to spokespeople for the state in Albany.
Locally, the state’s plans would also shut down public swimming at Selkirk Shores State Park, would close Chimney Bluffs state park near Wolcott and would close Springbrook Greens state golf course in Fair Haven. The closings are part of the department’s plans to save money as part of the 2010-11 state budget, which is supposed to be approved by April 1 but which is usually late.
“It seems perennially that parks are looked at as a luxury,” said David Turner, director of the Oswego County Department of Community Development Tourism and Planning. “But when I see families enjoying those parks, I know that they’re not luxuries at all. They’re treasures.”
He said the county was disappointed with the news and that county legislators will consider a resolution next week expressing their displeasure, as the work begins behind the scenes to lobby on behalf of the parks.
Turner said closing Fort Ontario and ending swimming at Selkirk Shores would hurt the county’s ability to attract tourists, who may come primarily for fishing or Harborfest, but who want to know there are other things to do when they come.
State Assemblyman Will Barclay (R-Pulaski) quickly condemned the proposal. In a statement, he said, “The potential closure of Fort Ontario as part of a cost-saving measure for the state is unacceptable and just another example of Albany’s mismanagement of taxpayer money. Rather than make real budget cuts to close the widening gap in the deficit, Albany has instead decided to close an important part of Central New York’s history.” His full statement is posted below.
Gov. David Paterson said in a statement released with the list of cuts:
“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.â€Â
PRESS RELEASE FROM THE STATE OFFICE OF PARKS, RECREATION AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION:
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; andCommunity/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 |
| Schoharie Crossing Historic Site | Schoharie | 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 |
| 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 |
Barclay: Closing Fort Ontario Is Not the Answer to Closing the Budget Deficit
Assemblyman Will Barclay (R,C,Iâ€â€Pulaski) today issued the following statement after learning that, due to reductions to the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historical Preservation (OPRHP) operation budget, 57 State Parks and Historic Sites, including Fort Ontario, have been listed for closure.
“The potential closure of Fort Ontario as part of a cost-saving measure for the state is unacceptable and just another example of Albany’s mismanagement of taxpayer money,†said Barclay. “Rather than make real budget cuts to close the widening gap in the deficit, Albany has instead decided to close an important part of Central New York’s history.â€Â
Through a 21-Day Amendment to the executive budget, OPRHP has proposed an additional $5 million from the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) to help pay for operational costs at selected parks throughout the state. Unfortunately, Fort Ontario is not listed among the selected parks that would be eligible for the funds.
“Because of its historical significance, Fort Ontario is an important educational tool for our community and enhances tourism in Oswego County. I will fight to keep Fort Ontario open and will work to see it included in the $5 million for select state parks,†Barclay concluded.
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Why visit NY state if they won’t let you see it? Why not lay off some politicians to save money? They wouldn’t be as missed as the parks and historic sites.
I agree with Jackie. I’m getting tired of Gov. Patterson’s suggestions. It just seems like he wants to take everything away from NYS. Holding tax returns will not be a popular suggestion either.
I don’t feel that any state park should close. It is a short-term fix in stead of a long-term one. Having said that, I only see two parks in the NYC Region will be affected (and only one closed). Why so many closures upstate and so few downstate? It is apparent where Albany’s loyalties are… This needs to be fixed
I am thunderstruck at the stupidity of the State. There is so much ‘wasteful spending’ in the government, I can’t imagine how they can justify the closure of something that actually generates money for the State! OMG, I can’t even imagine this…IS there no other way to close this gap?
PLEASE elected officials get your legislative heads together and find another way! PLEASE!!!
Deborah Engelke
Small business owner, Oswego, NY
This is rediculous! Look at all the people that will be out of jobs. Then these parks will get run down and eventually will be reopened and look at what it will cost to get them back in shape. I agree with previous comment to quit wasteful spending and let the extra politicians tighten their belts and stop offering free privileges to them. Many folks are staying close to home and watching their spending and now to take away the state parks………WRONG!!!!!!!
rich people rarely go to state parks, polititions very rarely go to state parks, so, who does that leave? it leaves us stupid, dumb and ignorent poor citizens who can’t afford to go very far and are at the mercy of the people who were either elected or (appointed), like you governor. you and a number of your cronies won’t make it the next time around……………………..
MY QUESTIONS FOR YEARS HAVE BEEN:
1)WHO PAYS FOR THE TAXES AT THE GOV MANSION?
2)WHO PAYS FOR THE UTILITIES AT THE GOV MANSION?
3)WHO PAYS FOR THE UPKEEP OF THE GOV MANSION?
4)WHO PAYS FOR THE “SERVANTS”AT THE GOV MANSION?
THEY HAVE GOOD TIPS ON THEIR WEBSITE ABOUT SAVING
ENEGRY LIKE USING A FAN INSTEAD OF AIR CONDITIONING.
BUT DO THEY FOLLOW IT?
OUR NEW SLOGAN IS GOING TO BE:
“WHEN YOU WANT TO RELAX AND DOING NOTHING,
COME TO NEW YORK.BECAUSE HERE WE HAVING NOTHING
TO DO.”
NY State officials should be ashamed of themselves wanting to close the attractions to our state. Cut back on top state officials paycheck and save our historic sites and parks, we have grown up with these and should be places for further generations to enjoy, after all it is a part of our heritage, having grown up in Fulton, NY before moving to Florida we enjoyed the weekends at these places and when I go home every year it is noce to revisit. Please find a way to keep these sites and parks open.
Sandie
Closing the Fort to loose the millions of already completed renovations is absolutely crazy. All of the other parks have a ton of employees — the Fort doesnt. How easy government forgets where we come from and how we got here. Maybe we could get someone whos national (Barcley) to STEP UP and get some national attention.
Mark
Its sad oswego needs that fort to bring in revenue for the city and the shops.we can thank all those politicans for wrecking the state over the years.
I am trying this again– I agree with all the above comments. When my kids were growing up we used to go to the Fort to wander around and learn the history,look at all the weapons from the past, go through the dungeons to see if we could see the Forts ghost or hear him. Why are you going to rob future generations of these great lessons and history.
If you charge a small entrance fee this would help pay the expenses of the Fort and all the other forts in the state. The state parks are used for family vacations and I know there is a charge for entrance to them. Where is that money going to? If the state wasn’t into spending every dime taken in for other things other than what it was intended for maybe there wouldn’t be a shortage– the lotto for schools?? the thruway charge for other things?? we can go down a long list of what money goes where but is eaten up by things that it isn’t intended for…like all the raises the politicians taking how about our “officials” who I am sure don’t need all the raises to put bread on their tables how about using that money to help out the state where it was intended to go in the 1st place
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Thanks for your comments, Dorothy (and everyone else on this issue).
Dave Bullard
Managing Editor
Is there some way that the state can give the park to the city? I know that the city of Oswego has a hard time running everything else in our town, but at least we wouldn’t lose one of our tourist destinations.
We own the lighthouse, why not the cities other historical landmark?
This is criminal. OK the Gov has our attention now. But our historical sites and parks are so important to the quality of life in New York State, there must be something else that can be done?
Oh, by the way the taxpayers paid to have the Gov flown to Syracuse last weekend to campaign for his election. We could save some money there…he could take Greyhound.
These bums are so unimaginative. If any of us were to run our households like they run this state we’d be living in cardboard boxes. It’s time to get out the broom, and I hope that all remember that in the voting booth, or whatever they’ve spent our money on to replace it.
Please go to “save Selkirk Shores beach” on Facebook and show your support. Thank you for your time and consideration.
aren’t we going to lose money by not collecting the fees that people pay to get into these parks and attractions in our state? people are still going to be able to access these facilities but now they wont have to pay for it and it wont be maintaned so not only will new york look worse but it will actually be worse. good job to our elected officials on this one.