--- Please take the time to contact our elected officials using the links provided ---
Several New York State Parks in our region are slated to close this year and a moratorium will be placed on open space acquisitions if the proposed NYS budget goes into effect. Governor Paterson has included a $79 million cut to the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) in his proposed budget for next year with the following parks and historic sites in Orange County slated to close:
Harriman State Park– Anthony Wayne recreation area
Knox Headquarters Historic Site
Fort Montgomery Historic Site
New Windsor Cantonment State Historic Site
Schunnemunk State Park
In nearby Ulster County, Minnewaska State Park is slated for closure as is Kingston Senate House Historic Site and the new Walkway Over the Hudson.
We need your help! Closing parks and providing no funding for open space is not the solution to New York’s fiscal crisis! There are economic as well as environmental benefits to keeping parks open and land preservation projects funded, including job creation and revenue from tourism.
Please take a moment to place a telephone call or e-mail to your local NYS Assembly and Senate members and urge them to:
- REJECT the disproportionate cut to the EPF and restore the Fund to at least $222 million.
- RESTORE the Open Space program to $60 million and reject the proposed moratorium on state acquisition of conservation lands.
- RESTORE the Hudson River Estuary Program to $6 million.
In addition, Senator Thompson, the Environmental Conservation Chairman, is circulating a letter in the Senate in support of restoring funding to the EPF. This letter will be presented to Governor Paterson. Please call or e-mail your Senator today and ask them to sign on to Senator Thompson’s letter in support of the EPF.
William J. Larkin - larkin@senate.state.ny.us
John J. Bonacic - bonacic@senate.state.ny.us
Thomas P. Morahan - morahan@senate.state.ny.us
Nancy Calhoun - http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/?ad=096&sh=contact
Aileen M. Gunther - http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/?ad=098&sh=contact
Frank K. Skartados - SkartadosF@assembly.state.ny.us
Annie Rabbitt - http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/?ad=097&sh=contact
Placing these phone calls and e-mails will help insure that our state parks remain open and that Orange County's land resources are protected and continue to provide for future generations. Please call or e-mail soon!
