Parks & Recreation

Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy is urging New York officials to enlist the private sector to ensure that proposed closures of state parks are averted so that residents can enjoy the full benefits of all state parks facilities.

The State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation today released its recommended list of closures and service reductions “in order to achieve its 2010-11 agency savings target and help address the State’s historic fiscal difficulties.” (See list of targeted Long Island parks, at bottom.)

Levy said state park closures may be able to be avoided if the New York brought in the private sector to run parks facilities. Accordingly, Levy is urging the state to issue a Request for Proposals seeking private-sector bids to operate jeopardized parks.

“The closure of pristine and immensely valued state parks could possibly be averted by allowing private interests to bid to operate these parks,” said Levy. “Such an opportunity could enable these private operators to set admission and concession fees as a way of balancing their financial objectives and ensuring their success.”

As an added attraction, Levy said, private-sector parks operators could be allowed to consider parks sponsorship/naming opportunities as a potential revenue source or to advertise their own name as they choose during the period of operation.

In 2009, state parks and historic sites across the U.S. cut back hours, staffing and services because of state budgets squeezed by the economic downturn. In New York, 100 of the state’s 178 state parks and 35 historic sites reduced services, from closing pools and beaches to shortening hours of operation. But none of the parks or sites closed entirely.

Levy said state officials must act quickly to prevent the following proposed Long Island park closures and service reductions this year, as announced today:

• Brookhaven State Park, Suffolk -- Close Park

• Bethpage State Park, Suffolk -- Eliminate winter sports, reduce picnic area and polo field


• Caleb Smith State Park Preserve, Suffolk -- Close Park


• Cold Spring Harbor State Park, Suffolk -- Close Park


• Connetquot River State Park, Suffolk -- Close Weekdays


• Heckscher State Park, Suffolk -- Close swimming pool


• Jones Beach State Park, Nassau -- Close West Swimming Pool, eliminate July 4th fireworks


• Montauk Downs State Park, Suffolk -- Close Swimming Pool


• Nissequogue River State Park, Suffolk -- Close Park


• Orient Beach State Park, Suffolk -- Close Park


• Trail View State Park, Suffolk -- Close Park

 

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Seeking to keep tourist and recreational dollars in the county, Suffolk Executive Steve Levy announced on February 18 that an array of fees for Suffolk beach parking, camping, boating, golfing and horseback riding will be restored to 2008 levels beginning in mid-March.

Last year, the county legislature approved a resolution to implement the fee increases and fund the financially distressed Vanderbilt Museum in Centerport. As a result, 2009 fee hikes included a 16.5 percent increase in Green Key Cards and an 18 percent increase in Green Key Cards for senior citizens; 18-to-20 percent increases in camping fees; outer beach RV permit hikes ranging from 16.5 percent to 20 percent; camping fee increases of 18 to 20 percent; golfing fee hikes of 10 to 16 percent, and picnic and event fee escalations of 40-to-50 percent.

“I was very pleased to submit a Recommended Operating Budget for 2010 that allowed these fee hikes to sunset, and to restore fees to their 2008 levels,” said Levy at a news conference in the Southaven County Park lodge in Brookhaven. “Our hard-working residents have for years contributed tax dollars that have helped create a parks system that is second to none, and there is no better time to give something back than when the national economy is forcing our residents to make difficult spending decisions.”

In addition to the parks fees rollback, Levy announced the implementation of free Wi-Fi Internet service at Southaven County Park. The new offering allows park users to take advantage of the Internet as a platform for accessing music and movies, as well as e-mail and any number of entertainment services. The service, which is expected to be made available at additional county parks later this year, is an extension of Suffolk’s network and is accessible via computers that have a Wi-Fi card or cell phones that have Internet connectivity.

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