Thacher, Shodack Island parks officially recommended for closure

February 19, 2010 6:32 PM

Craig Smith / Michelle Kim

ALBANY -- The state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation has released a list of state parks it is recommending for closure and service reductions as part of the state's attempts to meet its budget target for the 2010-2011 fiscal year.

Locally popular Thacher State Park had been rumored to be in danger of closure, but it wasn't until the list was released today that its status as an endangered park became official.

"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," Governor David Paterson explained in a press release.

A Park Department spokesperson said the closure of Thacher Park would save the state $255,000 for the next year. Bathrooms, parking lots, and picnic grounds would not be in operation. In summer, there's normally a fee to use the picnic grounds -- but no one would be there to collect it.

The question of public access has not yet been determined, said the spokesperson. There's no indication yet whether a person visiting the closed park would be considered a trespasser. Park police and park employees would be part of the discussion on access.

The spokesperson said the Department hopes the closures wouldn't be permanent.

The OPRHP's recommendations of park closures are part of the state's broader goal to close an $8.2 billion deficit. The plan includes closing 41 parks and 14 historic site, and reducing service at 23 parks and one historic site.

The plan also assumes $4 million in park and historic site fee increases that "will be identified at a later date," and the use of $5 million in funds from the Environmental Protection Fund to finance parks operations.

The two actions were part of the 21-day amendments to the Executive Budget and are intended to reduce the number of parks and historic sites subject to closures and service reductions, said OPRHP.

The full list follows:

LONG ISLAND

Brookhaven State Park Suffolk (Close Park)
Bethpage State Park Suffolk (Eliminate Winter Sports; Reduce picnic area and polo field)
Caleb Smith State Park Preserve Suffolk (Close Park)
Cold Spring Harbor State Park Suffolk (Close Park)
Connetquot River State Park Suffolk (Close Weekdays)
Heckscher State Park Suffolk (Close Swimming Pool)
Jones Beach State Park Nassau (Close West Swimming Pool; Eliminate July 4th fireworks)
Montauk Downs State Park Suffolk (Close Swimming Pool)
Nissequogue River State Park Suffolk (Close Park)
Orient Beach State Park Suffolk (Close Park)
Trail View State Park Suffolk (Close Park)

NEW YORK CITY REGION

Bayswater Point State Park Queens (Close Park)
Riverbank State Park New York (Reduce Operating Hours; Close Outdoor Swimming Pool; Eliminate Seniors Classes; and Community/Cultural Events)

PALISADES REGION

Fort Montgomery Historic Site Orange (Close Historic Site)
Harriman SP– Anthony Wayne Orange (Close Park Area)
Harriman SP – Group Camps Orange (Reduce Maintenance)
High Tor State Park Rockland (Close Pool)
Knox Headquarters Historic Site Orange (Close Historic Site)
New Windsor Cantonment SHS Orange (Close Historic Site)
Schunnemunk State Park Orange (Close Park)
Stony Point State Historic Site Orange (Close Historic Site)
Tallman Mountain State Park Rockland (Close Pool)

TACONIC REGION

Donald J. Trump State Park Westchester (Close Park)
FDR (Roosevelt) State Park Westchester (Reduce Swimming Pool Season)
Hudson Highlands State Park Putnam (Close Arden Point Area)
James Baird State Park Dutchess (Reduce Golf Course Season)
Mills Norrie State Park Dutchess (Reduce Golf Course Season)
Olana State Historic Site Columbia (Close 2 Days per Week)
Philipse Manor Hall Historic Site Westchester (Close Historic Site)
Rockefeller State Park Preserve Westchester (Eliminate Interpretive Programs)
Taconic Outdoor Education Center Putnam (Eliminate Interpretive Programs)
Taconic State Park – Rudd Pond Dutchess (Close Rudd Pond Area)
Wonder Lake State Park Putnam (Close Park)

SARATOGA-CAPITAL REGION

Bennington Battlefield State Park Rensselaer (Close Historic Site)
Hudson River Islands State Park Rensselaer (Close Park)
John Boyd Thacher State Park Albany (Close Park)
John Brown Farm Historic Site Essex (Close Historic Site)
Johnson Hall State Historic Site Fulton (Close Historic Site)
Max V. Shaul State Park Schoharie (Close Park)
Schodack Island State Park Rensselaer (Close Park)
Schoharie Crossing Historic Site Schoharie (Close Historic Site)
Schuyler Mansion Historic Site Albany (Close Historic Site)

CENTRAL REGION

Chittenango Falls State Park Madison (Close Park)
Clark Reservation State Park Onondaga (Close Park)
Fort Ontario State Historic Site Oswego (Close Historic Site)
Helen McNitt State Park Madison (Close Park)
Herkimer Home Historic Site Herkimer (Close Historic Site)
Hunts Pond State Park Chenango (Close Park)
Oquaga Creek State Park Broome (Close Park)
Old Erie Canal State Park Onondaga (Close Park)
Oriskany Battlefield/Steuben SHS Oneida (Close Historic Site)
Pixley Falls State Park Oneida (Close Park)
Robert Riddell State Park Delaware (Close Park)
Selkirk Shores State Park Oswego (Close Public Swimming Beach)

FINGER LAKES REGION

Beechwood State Park Wayne (Close Park)
Bonavista State Park Seneca (Close Park)
Chimney Bluffs State Park Wayne (Close Park)
Newtown Battlefield State Park Chemung (Close Park)
Springbrook Greens State Park Cayuga (Close Park)
Two Rivers State Park Tioga (Close Park)
Buttermilk Falls State Park Tompkins (Close Public Swimming Area)
Seneca Lake State Park Seneca (Close Lake Swimming Beach)
Stony Brook State Park Steuben (Close Public Swimming Area)

THOUSAND ISLANDS REGION

Canoe Island State Park Jefferson (Close Park)
Cedar Island State Park Jefferson (Close Park)
Eel Weir State Park St. Lawrence (Close Park)
Keewaydin State Park Jefferson (Close Park)
Macomb Reservation State Park Clinton (Close Park)
Mary Island State Park Jefferson (Close Park)
Point Au Roche State Park Clinton (Close Park)
Sackets Harbor State Historic Site Jefferson (Close Historic Site)

GENESSEE REGION

Hamlin Beach State Park Monroe (Close Swimming Beach 3 Days per Week)
Oak Orchard State Marine Park Orleans (Close Park)
Regionwide Multiple (Eliminate Camper Recreation Program)

NIAGARA REGION

Joseph Davis State Park Niagara (Close Park)
Knox Farm State Park Erie (Close Park)
Niagara Falls State Park Niagara (Reduce Interpretive Programs)
Wilson-Tuscarora State Park Niagara (Close Park)
Woodlawn Beach State Park Erie (Close Park)

ALLEGANY REGION

Allegany State Park Cattaraugus (Close Quaker Area Swim Beach; Close Quaker Cabins Area on December 1st; Eliminate Winter Trails Maintenance; Reduce Recreation Programs)
Long Point State Park Chautauqua (Close Park)

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