Our State Parks Are in Jeopardy

(Editor's Note: The author, Michael Polansky, is the president of the Greater  Long Island Running Club, which presents an annual 5. Caumsett is not among those where cuts or closures are planned.)

The politicians are playing games again, and it looks like those of us who enjoy our state parks might be the losers!

    The governor's 2010-11 budget calls for a 20 percent cut in the amount allotted for state parks.  What that means is that programs are going to be cut, and many state parks will be closed, and dramatic cuts in hours and available services will be made at others. Both the 2010 State Parks Summer Run Series and the 2011 State Parks Winter Run Series are apparently on the chopping block, and that certainly would be bad news for all of us.

    Over the past two years, the state parks system has  lost more than 850 permanent and seasonal staff, and equipment, maintenance and other operational areas have suffered equivalently.  Whatever "fat" was in the operating budget has long since disappeared, and what's being discussed now will seriously impact the heart and soul of our parks.

    Leaving aside the direct and immediate interest of Long Island runners and walkers in preserving and maintaining our beleaguered state parks system, I understand that more that $400 million in economic activity and nearly 4,000 jobs in the private sector are tied into the state parks programs on Long Island alone, and our state parks generate $5 for the local economy for every $1 invested in them.  In short, drastic cuts in the state parks budget is bad economics as well as bad politics.

    It is very important that each one of us contact our representatives in the New York State Senate and New York State Assembly.  Regardless of what the governor has proposed, no cuts can be made unless these legislators agree. 

    I have already been in touch with several legislators. 

 Unfortunately, I have  been told by one legislator that "economic reality dictates that there will be cuts in many of the areas where we least want them."  That's a very bad sign, and indicates that if nothing changes, the state parks system is indeed going to be the easy place to make the kind of cuts that will have horrible consequences.

     It's up to you to do your part to stop this from happening.  Contact your state assembly member, your state senator, and let them know in very strong terms that the proposed cuts to state parks are not acceptable, and that your vote in November will be determined by their vote on the proposed cut to the state parks budget.  Tell them that no state budget is acceptable that will result in parks being closed or the state parks running programs being eliminated.  The squeaky wheel very much gets the grease, and it's up to the running community to be a very squeaky wheel!
                   
    If you don't know who your State Assembly member or state senator is, enter your address in to the state Board of Elections interactive map or call the Greater Long Island Running Club office at 516 349-7646 and we'll get you the information.   Time is short and the situation has never been this dire.

    See you on the roads, the trails, the track, and (maybe) at the state parks!

Click here to see State Parks Commissioner Carol Ash's tesetimony before joint fiscal committees of the state legislature on the fiscal year  2011 state budget.