Preservation group puts New York's shuttered sites on "endangered" list

Wendy Nicholas, with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, says state parks and historic sites have been placed on the list of America's Most Endangered Historic Places. While the listing refers to all state parks in the nation, Nicholas says it was Governor Paterson's decision to close 41 parks and 14 historic sites in New York that convinced the group to act.

"It's the prime example of the dire threat to America's treasured heritage," Nicholas said.  

Nicholas says it makes no sense, given the small amount of money that will be saved- $11 million dollars in an over $130 billion dollar state budget. She says, in the long term, the total cost might be more than the savings. She says sites can rapidly deteriorate from neglect.

"The heat and water get turned off, people aren't around," said Nicholas " Security is a problem, vandalism is a problem."

Among the historic sites on the closure list- the abolitionist John Brown's farm outside Lake Placid, and Philipse Manor in Yonkers.

Assemblyman Jack McEneny, of Albany, considered the unofficial historian of the Capitol, says he's also concerned about the closure of Thacher Park, outside Albany, a large tract of land that is bisected by a main road, and that features escarpment cliffs hundreds of feet high.
 
"I don't want to be the one to figure out how to clean off the graffiti from the cliffs," said McEneny, who says he also worries about what to do with all of the artifacts at closed historic sites.

Robyn Dropkin, with the advocacy group Parks and Trails New York says even if being listed on the national endangered historic places list is negative attention, at least it's attention, and may help to further mobilize the public who have already formed Facebook pages and have written letters protesting the closure of the parks.

"I hope it sheds some light on this crisis," said Dropkin, who said parks are among the most "beloved" of public services.  

Governor Paterson, as recently as Tuesday, said he would not be swayed by public opinion, and would not include money for the parks in any emergency spending measures.

"It's irresponsible of me, even if I'm the most unpopular person in the state," said Paterson.  

Paterson says there'll be no funds for the parks until the state budget is settled, and that's not likely to happen anytime soon.

State lawmakers next week say they plan to attempt an end run around the governor. They are not allowed to pass laws demanding that the money for the parks be allocated, but they believe that they can pass a law requiring that all state parks keep the same hours in 2010 as they did in the 2009 season. That bill is believed to have a veto proof majority in the Assembly, but might not have enough backers in the State Senate to override a veto by the governor.