The chairs of the Assembly and Senate committees overseeing state parks have been persistent in their quest to keep the state's parks open as the summer park season creeps ever closer.

As reported in the Times-Union, Assemblyman Steve Englebright, (D-Setauket), Chair of the Assembly Committee on Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports Development, and Senator Jose M. Serrano, (D-Bronx, Manhattan), Chair of the Senate Committee on Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation met with Governor Paterson as recently as last week to find a solution.  The Governor's Executive Budget proposes a $6.3 million cut from the budget of the state's Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.  This would result in the closure of 57 state parks and historic sites and a reduction in programs and services at 22 more.  Furthermore, if parks lose out on $5 million from the state's Environmental Protection Fund, this would result in an additional 34 closures and service reductions at 18 locations.

In March, the two chairs were joined by advocates and leaders in parks, tourism and business to voice their support for restoration of funding and affirm the influential role of parks on local economies.  The proposed cut would produce only miniscule savings, with the cuts representing four-thousandths of one percent of the state budget, yet critically impact a sector that generates $1.9 billion in annual economic activity.  Full budget restoration would help alleviate the struggles faced by many local economies, as each dollar invested in state parks results in $5 in economic activity.

After his most recent meeting with the Governor, Assemblymen Englebright said he "appeared to be willing to roll up his sleeves and find a way to keep as many parks open as possible."