Speak out for parks!

With spring on the way, people are eager to get outdoors and enjoy hiking, biking, sightseeing, and other activities at the Mohonk Preserve and across the region. New Yorkers and millions of visitors to the state are fortunate to have access to parks, recreational areas, and historic sites. It’s therefore alarming to think that many of these beautiful, popular, and economically critical areas could be closed down.

Governor Paterson’s recent budget proposal would slash the operations of the State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation (OPRHP), which has issued a list of 90 parks slated for closure and service reductions should the budget be approved. On that list was Minnewaska State Park Preserve, which draws 225,000 visitors annually, and is a key partner in land protection, conservation research, and recreational activities both for the Mohonk Preserve and across the Shawangunks.

As the last year has proven, it’s precisely when times are tough that people seek recreation and solace in the outdoors and spend their limited entertainment and tourism budgets close to home. New York’s parks and historic sites cost only one-quarter of one percent of the state’s overall budget, and keeping them open would cost just $11 million. Yet closing Minnewaska alone could result in a possible loss of $4-8 million in economic activity.

The current budget proposal would clearly cost far more than it saves, and be a blow to local communities and the environment. To learn more and be part of the effort to save our precious parks, visit Parks & Trails at www.ptny.org and the “Save Minnewaska” page on Facebook. You can write to elected officials using information and ideas in these sample letters* (remember that tailoring these a bit to be personal has more impact).