Staffs scramble as budget deal opens New York State parks

(05/28/10) All New York State parks will be open this weekend, but not all the usual services will be available everywhere.

Gov. Paterson said negotiations that ended yesterday would provide $11 million for full operations this year, offset by money from the Environmental Protection Fund, which would be cut by about $74 million. Lawmakers had wanted smaller EPF cuts and balked at Paterson's proposal earlier in the week but are expected to vote on the plan today. Willsboro Assemblywoman Teresa Sayward said couldnn't "in good conscience" vote in favor.

In a statement last night, Sayward wrote the bill will take $11 million from the general fund and add about $14 million in business taxes and fees. She wrote, "Environmental groups, the Business Council and the Farm Bureau all oppose this bill, and in a time when economic stimulation is our top priority, passing legislation to further burden business is bad business." "Instead of sweeping funds and adding taxes and fees," Sayward wrote, "we should instead explore the DEC's model of cooperation and innovation to keep our parks open."

Many of the reprieved parks and historic sites are in the Adirondack North Country, from John Brown's farm just outside Lake Placid to the popular Keewaydin Park on the St. Lawrence River.

Kevin Kieff is the regional director of state parks in the Thousand Islands region, which extends across northern New York from Lake Ontario to Lake Champlain. He says eight sites in the area were on the "closed" list. Now, people will have access to these parks, but he tells Jonathan Brown getting services up and running will take time.