Governor, Legislature Reach Accord on Parks and Historic Sites
Schuyler Mansion, Albany
The Governor and Legislature have reached a deal to open State Parks and Historic Sites by Memorial Day. Last week’s closing of selected parks and 14 historic sites sparked a public outcry and both sides scrambled to find a solution.
Governor Paterson proposed using money from the State Environmental Protection Fund to allow the re-openings but the Legislature and environmental advocates rejected that. Instead, the EPF will be cut by $30 million and $11 million of those savings will be restored to the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to allow the re-openings.
This agreement is separate from the budget and does not resolve long term OPRHP funding. Negotiations on overall state spending continue. Reducing EPF funding to $134 million brings the EPF to its lowest level in years.
The Landmarks Conservancy worked with the Preservation League of New York State and other colleagues to ensure that funding was restored. Many of the threatened sites relate to Revolutionary War heroes and battlefields and embody New York’s importance to national affairs.
