Park users, groups decry proposed state park cuts

Brentwood Soccer Club president Violette Smith can't understand why the state would spend $9 million to develop Brentwood State Park and then consider closing it a year later.

"It makes no common sense," said Smith, who lobbied for years to have athletic fields constructed at the park used by 1,000 children in her club along with several adult leagues and baseball teams. "I'm fuming."

Smith was one of many leaders of park user and advocacy groups and legislators who reacted with outrage after learning Friday that as many as 10 Long Island state parks might be closed under the governor's budget. The governor has proposed cutting $29 million, or 16 percent, from the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation budget.

According to park sources, besides shutting up to 10 parks, the agency is looking at raising ocean beach admission from $8 to $10, increasing golf fees after raising them last year, and eliminating arts, recreation and environmental programs and special events such as the July Fourth fireworks at Jones Beach.

Legislators predicted that by the time the budget is approved, few or no parks would close. "I'm hopeful that there will be limited cuts, if any, to recreational services" because many of the proposed parks cuts are in areas that create revenue and jobs, said state Sen. Charles Fuschillo (R-Merrick).

Paterson spokesman Morgan Hook said "this is a budget that includes some incredibly difficult decisions like cutting education and health care funding. If there are legislators or advocates out there who want the governor to change aspects of his budget, they will need to provide alternatives - do they want to raise taxes? Where else would they prefer to cut?"

Cynthia Shor, executive director of the Walt Whitman Birthplace, a historic site owned by the state and operated by a nonprofit group, said state parks provides $25,000 a year for heating, telephone bills, supplies and groundskeeping at the Huntington Station site. That funding may cease, sources said. "If our budget is $200,000 and we lose $25,000, we would have to close," Shor said.

Peggy Micciche, president of Friends of Caleb Smith Preserve in Smithtown, said "it's unbelievable" that the Smithtown park might close. "They just spent money to restore the nature museum in the main house. It just reopened and now they're going to close it? It doesn't seem logical to me."

Michael Polansky of Plainview, president of the Long Island Roadrunners Club, which sponsors winter and summer series of 5K runs held in the parks, expects them to be one of the first things canceled. Even though they attract up to 1,500 people, the races cost the state money, he said.

The group will try to find private sponsors to keep the races going and move them out of state parks if necessary. But, Polansky said, "Long Island's state parks are really one of the nicest things about Long Island."