Cutbacks at NY State Parks, Pools

MYFOXNY.COM - New York's budget crisis wil be felt at parks and pools this summer. About 100 parks will see some reduction in hours or services. However, a spokesman for the Parks Department noted that no park will be completely shut down. The cutbacks also affect camp grounds, tours and other services.

Fox 5's Nicole Johnson reports on how this will affect Jones Beach and other local sports (video, left).

For more information, visit the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation .

Changes for the Long Island Region are outlined below.

* Caleb Smith State Park Preserve: Closed on Monday & Tuesdays (previously closed Mondays only). Public fly fishing hours reduced (evening sessions no longer offered).

* Caumsett State Historic Park: The park will close early on weekdays (5:00 pm). Normal weekend hours will remain in place (8:00 pm closing).

* Heckscher State Park: The swimming pool season will be shortened by four weeks – open late (July 4) and close early (August 17).

* Hempstead Lake State Park: The carousel will be open on weekends and holidays only (closed weekdays; the carousel previously was open seven days/week).

* Jones Beach State Park: East Bathhouse swimming pool (one of two pools in the park) closed for 2009. West End ocean swimming beach closed for 2009. Zach's Bay swimming area will open for Memorial Day, but then close until June 27, and will close early (August 16). The Field 1 ocean swimming beach will be open only three major weekends (previously open all summer weekends).

* Robert Moses State Park: The Field 2 Beach area will close for the winter four weeks early (October 31).

* Regionwide – Reduced Programming. Examples of programs that will be reduced or eliminated include: Heckscher Spring Festival, Children's Summer Theater, Cultural Areas Concert Series, Shakespeare in the Park, and campground programming.

Changes for the Palisades Region are outlined below.

* Bear Mountain State Park: Swimming pool will open late (June 20). Winter operations reduced.

* Harriman State Park: Mid-week swimming beach closures – Welch Lake Beach closed Mondays and Tuesdays; Sebago Beach closed Wednesdays and Thursdays; Tiorati Beach closed all weekdays after August 21. Also, Beaver Pond campground will open two weeks late (May 1) and close two weeks early (October 12).

* High Tor State Park: The park will open late (June 28). The swimming pool will be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays (previously open 7 days/week).

* Minnewaska State Park: Swimming beaches will open two weeks late (June 20). Minnewaska Beach only will open one hour later (11:00am) and close one-half hour earlier (7:00pm). Winter cross-country ski grooming reduced.

* Rockland Lake State Park: The North swimming pool remains closed; the south swimming pool will open one hour later on weekdays (11:00 am) and will be open on weekends only starting mid-August (previously open 7 days/week until Labor Day). Winter operations will be reduced.

* Tallman Mountain State Park: The swimming pool will be closed Wednesdays and Thursdays and will close two weeks early (August 16).

* Historic Site Reductions. New Windsor Cantonment will be closed Mondays and will close for the winter two weeks early (November 1). Washington's Headquarters will be closed Monday and Tuesday (previously closed Mondays only). At Fort Montgomery, public and group programming will be eliminated on Wednesdays.

Changes for the Genesee Region are outlined below.

* Conesus and Silver Lake Boat Launches: Open late (May 1) and not staffed after Labor Day.

* Darien Lakes State Park: Campground opens late (May 15) and close early (Columbus Day). Swimming beach will open late (June 20). During the winter, restroom closed and minimal snow plowing.

* Hamlin Beach State Park: Campgrounds open late (May 15) and close early (October 13). One of two swimming beaches closed for 2009. Picnic shelters and restrooms will close early in the fall.

* Lakeside Beach State Park and Oak Orchard Boat Launch: Campgrounds and boat launch open late (May 15). Boat Launch not staffed after Labor Day and Campground closes early (October 13).

* Letchworth: Most campgrounds and cabins open late (May 15) and close early (phased closings Labor Day to late October). The South swimming pool remains closed (the Harvey (north) swimming pool remains open seven days / week). Selected restrooms and picnic shelters close early in fall. During the winter, roadway and parking area plowing and cross-country and snowmobile trail grooming will be reduced.

Changes for the Central Region are outlined below.

* Glimmerglass State Park: Winter tubing program will not operate during the winter of 2009-10, and primitive winter camping will be discontinued.

* Hunts Pond State Park: Campground closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

* Oquaga Creek State Park: The park and swimming beach will be closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The campground will be closed Monday through Wednesday.

* Pixley Falls State Park: Campground closed for 2009 (note: this facility is slated for a bridge replacement).

* Selkirk Shores State Park: The swimming beach will open late (June 19) and will be closed Monday through Thursday (open Friday through Sunday only). Swimming at Sandy Island Beach will open late (weekends only beginning Memorial Day; open daily beginning June 19).

* Regional Campsites. All campgrounds will operate under reduced shortened seasons (typically shortened by two to four weeks). All campgrounds will open on May 15th (one to two weeks late for some facilities, except five weeks late for Chenango Valley). All campgrounds will close on Columbus Day (except Selkirk Shores will remain open until September 14).

* Regional Historic Sites. Herkimer Home & Lorenzo State Historic Site will be closed Mondays and Tuesdays except holidays (previously the sites were closed on Mondays only). Fort Ontario, Herkimer Home, and Lorenzo State Historic Sites will close on October 18 (two weeks early). The Lorenzo winter holiday program will be shortened to 5 days (previously an 18 day event). Note: all sites are open for tours by appointment.

Changes for the Allegany Region are outlined below.

* Allegany State Park: Reduced hours of operations at the Red House and Quaker swimming beaches (closing one hour early each day). Reduced nature and interpretive programs. Camping season reduced during late fall and early spring and reduced cabin availability late fall. Selective late fall closures of restroom facilities.

* Lake Erie State Park: The swimming beach will be closed for 2009. Camping season reduced (Memorial Day weekend to Columbus weekend).

* Long Point State Park: Swimming beach will open late (July 1) and close early (August 16), and daily swimming hours will be reduced (shortened by two hours/day). Restrooms will be closed during the winter and snowplowing will be curtailed.

* Midway State Park: Reduced hours of operation (open Noon to 7:00 pm). Special events will be reduced.

Changes for the Finger Lakes Region are outlined below.

* Buttermilk Falls State Park: Swimming area will open four weeks late (June 20).

* Cayuga Lake State Park: Swimming beach will open four weeks late (June 20).

* Fair Haven Beach State Park: Swimming beach will open four weeks late (June 20). The number of fall camping sites will be reduced and winter cabin rentals eliminated.

* Long Point State Park: Swimming will be closed Monday through Friday (open on weekends and holidays only).

* Newtown Battlefield State Park: The campground season will be shortened by three weeks – open late (May 22) and close early (October 12).

* Seneca Lake State Park: The lake swimming beach will be open on weekends and holidays only (closed Monday through Friday). The spray park will remain open seven days / week.

* Taughannock Falls State Park: Camping will open one month late (April 24). The winter sledding area will be closed.

* Golf Courses. Three golf courses – Bonavista, Pinnacle, and Springbrook Greens– will open late (April 18) and close early (October 24).close on October 18 (two weeks early). The Lorenzo winter holiday program will be shortened to 5 days (previously an 18 day event). Note: all sites are open for tours by appointment.

Changes for the Saratoga-Capital Region are outlined below.

* Cherry Plain State Park: Swimming beach closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Campground will open late (July 4) and close early (September 7).

* Grafton Lakes State Park: Swimming beach closed Wednesdays and Thursdays.

* Max V. Shaul State Park: Campground will have a shortened season. Open for Memorial Day Weekend only, and then reopening from July 4 through Labor Day.

* Peebles Island State Park: Visitor Center closed Mondays and Tuesdays (previously open 6 days/week).

* Saratoga Spa State Park: The Peerless swimming pool will be closed Tuesdays (Victoria swimming pool will remain open seven days / week).

* Thompson Lake State Park: Swimming beach closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

* Historic Site Reductions. Shortened seasons, reduced hours of operations, and/or reduced programming at Crown Point, Johnson Hall, Schuyler Mansion, and Bennington Battlefield State Historic Sites. rogram will be shortened to 5 days (previously an 18 day event). Note: all sites are open for tours by appointment.

Changes for the Taconic Region are outlined below.

* Clarence Fahnestock State Park: Taconic Outdoor Education Center will be closed from June through September (coinciding with the construction of a new septic system).

* Clermont State Historic Site: The Visitor Center and historic house tours will be closed for the winter (January to March, 2010), except that group tours will be provided by prior appointment.

* Golf Courses: Dinsmore Golf Course (Mills-Norrie State Park) and James Baird Golf Course will close early (November 15). November golf hours will be shortened.

* Lake Taghkanic State Park: The East Swimming Beach will be closed for 2009. The West Swimming Beach will open late (weekends starting May 23 and daily starting June 27).

* Taconic State Park: Copake Falls campground and cabins will open late (May 22). Some cabins will close early (October 25). Rudd Pond swimming area will be closed on weekdays (open weekends and holidays only).

* Historic Sites Reductions: Shortened seasons and reduced days/hours of operation may occur at John Jay Homestead, Philipse Manor, Olana, and Staatsburgh State Historic Sites.

* Regional Swimming Facilities: All swimming beaches and pools will have reduced days and hours of operation after August 16.