Published: February 09, 2010 12:00 am      

State budget impact on area parks unknown

By Jake Palmateer

Staff Writer

State park closures may be on the horizon as Albany grapples with a budget crisis.

But area state legislators say they are hoping area state parks such as Glimmerglass and Gilbert Lake will be unaffected.

The potential closures or reductions in services at state parks throughout New York would be a result of a $29 million cut to the operating budget of the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. The reduction, which amounts to 16 percent over the current fiscal year, is part of the Gov. David Paterson's executive budget proposal for 2010-11.

"We don't have any list of specific parks that are targeted," said Jeff Bishop, a spokesman for state Sen. James Seward, R-Milford. "It's pretty early in the process at this point."

The state Department of Environmental Conservation manages a separate system of state parks in the Adirondacks and Catskills.

Assemblyman Bill Magee, D-Nelson, said he has not heard which area state parks may be affected, if any.

Magee said he heard testimony late last month from OPRHP Commissioner Carol Ash.

OPRHP manages 178 parks and 35 historic sites. The system hosted 56 million visitors, an increase of 1.9 million visitors from 2008.

"We will make every effort to reduce costs in all parts of the agency's budget _ particularly in reducing administrative costs and eliminating all non-essential activities," Ash said during her testimony. "However, given the extent of the fiscal crisis facing the state and the fact that 85 percent of our budget is spent directly on park operations, we have moved well beyond our ability to manage budget cuts through administrative savings and service reductions. Simply stated, we will no longer be able to continue to operate all of the facilities and programs we currently administer."

Magee said the local state parks, such as Gilbert Lake, are an alternative form of recreation for Otsego County families affected by the economic downturn. But they also serve to support the area's tourism industry, he said.

"I know there is a lot of concern for the parks," Magee said. "It would be a shame to close them."

In addition to Gilbert Lake and Glimmerglass, the OPRHP operates Robert V. Riddell and Betty and Wilbur Davis state parks in Otsego County and Hunt's Pond State Park in Chenango County.

Magee said the latest he has heard from OPRHP is that the agency is still evaluating its operations.