Ilya Marritz
Ilya Marritz covers business for WNYC.
NY State Plans to Close Parks in Budget Crunch
Friday, February 19, 2010
New York, NY –
State parks officials are proposing shutting Brookhaven State Park in Suffolk County, and 40 other parks throughout New York, in an effort to bridge an $8.2 billion budget deficit.
They also want to slash services at 23 other parks. Jones Beach would lose its Fourth of July fireworks, and the outdoor swimming pool at Manhattan's Riverbank State Park would also close.
Rob Moore of the group Environmental Advocates says it's not worth the projected $6 million savings. "With these closures, New Yorkers who are already dealing with enough problems in terms of job losses, in terms of loss of economic opportunity, now aren't even gonna have the parks as a place to go for a respite," Moore says.
A spokesman for the state says officials considered factors like attendance, revenue, and operating costs. If the legislature approves the governor's proposal, 67 workers are projected to lose their jobs.
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