Staff and Wire Reports
Four area state parks are on a list of recommended closures issued Friday by the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
Robert Riddell State Park in Delaware County, Oquaga Creek State Park on the border of Delaware County, Max V. Shaul State Park in Schoharie County and Hunts Pond State Park in Chenango County are among more than 40 of the state's 178 parks that might be closed to help combat New York's $8.2 billion budget deficit.
State officials said Friday that more than a third of state parks and nearly half of historic sites would be closed or have reduced services under the proposal.
OPRHP spokesman Dan Keefe said Friday he can't predict whether use of the properties will be allowed.
He said closings were based on criteria including attendance, revenue, operating costs and availability of other parks in close proximity.
"New York faces an historic fiscal crisis of unprecedented magnitude," Gov. David A. Paterson said in a media release. "It has demanded many difficult but necessary decisions to help ensure the fiscal integrity of our state. 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."
"These actions were not recommended lightly, but they are necessary to address our state's extraordinary fiscal difficulties," OPRHP Commissioner Carol Ash said in a media release.
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 later, and the use of $5 million in funds from the Environmental Protection Fund to finance OPRHP operations.
Robert V. Riddell State Park near Oneonta was about doubled in size Nov. 7, 2008, following the acquisition of 820 acres from Hartwick College purchased using $984,000 through the Environmental Protection Fund of 2006, Keefe said previously.
A gift from the Riddell family of Colliersville, Robert V. Riddell State Park has more than 1,800 acres of forested woodlands located in the Susquehanna River Valley. The park straddles Interstate 88 in Otsego County and is part of an extensive statewide trail network. Schenevus Creek, a Class A trout stream that leads to the Susquehanna River, crosses the north side of the park.
In summer 2005, then-Gov. George Pataki announced the opening of the park on 1,036 acres in Milford and Maryland, formerly owned by Robert Riddell, who died in 2002.
No information was available Friday about what the possible closure of local parks might mean.
The Associated Press reported Friday that parks spokeswoman Eileen Larrabee said officials would review each closed park to determine whether the public could still visit the state-owned land.
Parking areas and restrooms would likely be closed, with no plowing, mowing or trail maintenance and gates down across some entrances, Larrabee said.
Other area parks facing closure include:
"¢ Oquaga Creek State Park, on county Route 20 in Masonville, features beach facilities and 95 forested campsites. The 55-acre Arctic Lake has a sand beach and fishing access. A newly redecorated completely furnished two-story rental cottage is available.
"¢ Hunt's Pond State Park in Chenango County is a small park with 18 primitive campsites, a picnic area, and a boat launch site.
"¢ Max V. Shaul State Park is a small camping area with 30 wooded tent and trailer sites. Fishing is allowed in Panther Creek.
