State Parks Budget Cuts Spark Outrage in Albany
Only a few days after the Paterson administration released its list of potential park closings, New Yorkers are up in arms. Hundreds of park supporters rallied at the State Capitol in Albany yesterday to protest the plan to close up to 90 state parks and historic sites. More than 100,000 park supporters have already formed or joined Facebook groups that are mobilizing opposition to the closings. And thousands more have signed petitions, called and emailed their legislators, and organized local rallies to support keeping parks open.
“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, the statewide advocacy group organizing the event. “The savings are miniscule compared to the hardship park closings will cause New Yorkers, and especially compared to the tax revenue generated by the visitors’ spending that will no longer be there when the parks are gone.”
