State yanks thousands of parks disability passes

The state Wednesday canceled disability passes for thousands of people who got free park admissions and rounds of golf though some were apparently healthy.

The move follows years of complaints that the system was being abused by people who weren't disabled.

The Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation says making it harder to get the Access Pass will bring in more than $1 million in new revenue per year.

About two-thirds of the 34,000 people, including about 4,000 on Long Island, who had the passes no longer qualify for them, the office said. That comes to about 22,000 people.

"The original intent of the Access Pass program remains very important. However, the growth of the program well beyond what was authorized by law has had a significant financial impact on the park system," parks Commissioner Carol Ash said. "With the fiscal crisis forcing state parks closures and service cuts, the reform is necessary to prevent more drastic cuts to our facilities."

The department reverted to the criteria spelled out in state legislation establishing the program in the early 1970s that requires applicants to be blind, deaf, an amputee, unable to walk, mentally disabled or a disabled veteran.

The criteria were broadened in 1978 to include semi-ambulatory individuals and individuals receiving Social Security Disability or Supplemental Security Income. Those people would not now qualify for the passes. For example, someone with a joint replacement who doesn't require a wheelchair would not qualify.

It also cut off about 250 former Long Island Rail Road workers with disability certification from the federal Railroad Retirement Board. Elected officials have criticized the board for employing lax standards.

The pass holders avoided paying as much as $60 for a round of golf at the Black Course at Bethpage State Park, as well as routine entrance fees, such as $8 for beach admission.

To remain eligible for an Access Pass, a person must meet the following criteria:

be certified by a doctor to have lost a part of an arm or leg;

have central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with corrective lenses;

hearing loss in excess of 80 decibels in the better ear;

use a wheelchair for mobility or require special transportation or physical assistance from another person at all times to move;

be certified to be eligible to receive services from a program licensed, operated, certified or funded by the Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities or the Office of Mental Health;

be a veteran with a 40 percent or greater disability certified by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Individuals who lose eligibility can reapply through the six remaining categories.