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OPRHP – Testimony Before the Joint Fiscal Committees of the State Legislature on the FY 2011-12 Executive Budget
Thumbs up! No Park Closures.....
Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation – Acting Commissioner Andy Beers – February 8, 2011 – Senate Finance Chair DeFrancisco and Assembly Ways & Means Chair Farrell, thank you for the opportunity to be with you today to discuss Governor Cuomo’s Executive Budget proposal for State Parks for Fiscal Year 2011-12. Thank you also Senator Little and Assemblyman Englebright, Chairs of the Tourism & Parks Committees, as well as other members of the Senate and Assembly here today.
I am representing State Parks today as Acting Commissioner, having served in this role since last October. Governor Cuomo recently announced he will nominate Rose Harvey as the next State Parks Commissioner. Ms. Harvey, who expects to begin working later this month, brings a wealth of experience in parks and environmental issues to our agency, and she looks forward to working with you and your colleagues during this legislative session.
In his State of the State Address and Executive Budget presentation, Governor Cuomo forcefully articulated the severity of the fiscal challenges facing New York State and the need to right-size and redesign how government provides services to the people of our state. Governor Cuomo’s message has been crystal clear – maintaining the status quo is simply not an option. State spending over the past ten years has grown at more than double the rate of inflation. We can no longer spend beyond our means.
We at Parks are prepared to do our part in the budget while ensuring the continued operation of our facilities.
As all of you know, New York’s parks and historic sites are among New York’s great assets. State Parks has been entrusted with the care of 213 state parks and historic sites, which include many of the state’s most iconic landscapes – treasured places like Niagara Falls, Jones Beach, Bear Mountain, Green Lakes, Saratoga Spa, Allegany, Bethpage, Riverbank, Orient Point, Letchworth, and Hudson Highlands State Parks. The system also includes 35 historic sites that preserve and interpret critical elements of New York’s culture and history – including Washington’s Headquarters, Olana, Fort Niagara, Ganondagan, and the Darwin Martin House.
For more than a century, New York has invested in developing world-class park facilities, and today we have the most developed state park system in the nation. Our park system encompasses 5,000 buildings, 8,355 campsites, 817 cabins, 53 swimming pools, 76 swimming beaches, 29 golf courses, 27 marinas, 40 boat launch sites, 18 nature centers, more than 1,350 miles of trails, 106 dams, 640 bridges, hundreds of miles of roads, and hundreds of historic structures listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places.
We are incredibly fortunate and all benefit from the time, energy, and money that have been invested in these resources over the years. New York’s parks and historic sites are gifts given from one generation to the next. And this team at State Parks will continue to care for and improve upon these gifts in the next fiscal year, while managing the ten percent reduction in State Operations Funding required of all state agencies as part of closing the state’s $10 billion deficit.
I am confident that the ten percent reduction can be achieved without requiring new closures of state parks or historic sites by reevaluating our operations to identify additional efficiencies, eliminating redundancies, and examining how savings from actions taken in the current fiscal year will help us in the next fiscal year.
For the last two years, State Parks has undergone consistent review and faced many challenges, proving that we can do more with less and that in crisis there is also opportunity. Our management of past budget reductions has made us a more flexible, innovative, and efficient institution. When faced with insufficient resources to maintain a facility, we didn’t just shutter the building or lock the park. Instead we looked for synergies and partners in local governments, state and federal agencies, and private organizations, and we were able to keep our parks and facilities open to the public.
In the past year, we have reached agreements with local governments to operate Woodlawn Beach State Park in Erie County, Beechwood State Park in Wayne County, and Oak Orchard Boat Launch in Orleans County. Ownership of Empire Fulton Ferry State Park and the undeveloped South Beach property were transferred to New York City. And we reached an agreement under which the National Park Service is operating Oriskany Battlefield and Steuben Memorial State Historic Sites. We will continue to forge partnerships and find other creative solutions to better serve New Yorkers in the next fiscal year.
In response to the Governor’s call for a fresh look at how government operates, State Parks is initiating a comprehensive review of the agency’s operations to identify opportunities to achieve cost efficiencies by redesigning the way we do business. Potential areas of savings that we will continue to explore include:
- increased partnerships with local governments and non-profit organizations and exploration of opportunities for greater private sector involvement in state park operations;
- collaborative efforts and shared services with ESDC, DEC, DOT and other sister agencies;
- efforts to increase fundraising from individuals, foundations, and corporate sponsors; and
- technology investments that can boost agency productivity.
The 2011-12 Executive Budget contains $25 million in state funding for capital rehabilitation and improvement projects in our State Parks and Historic Sites:
- The budget makes $17.2 million available for State Park Infrastructure Fund (SPIF) capital projects, which is the same amount provided in 2010-11.
- The budget recommends $16.2 million from the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) for capital “Stewardship” projects, of which $8.1 million is allocated to OPRHP (the other half of the Stewardship funds would be allocated to DEC). Given the State Park System’s substantial capital rehabilitation needs, the EPF Stewardship line is a critical source of funding for OPRHP’s capital program.
- The budget also provides appropriation authority for OPRHP to expend capital funds received from federal sources, mitigation projects, and private contributions.
You may recall that during fiscal years 2008-09 and 2009-10, State Parks received a total of $85 million of bonded “State Parks Capital Initiative” funds for park and historic site revitalization projects. I am pleased to report that all of these funds have been fully deployed, allowing the agency to complete hundreds of vitally important facility and infrastructure rehabilitation projects.
The Executive Budget contains $134 million for Environmental Protection Fund programs, which is the same amount provided in the current year. There are no proposed program off-loads to the EPF. The funding level and programmatic approach to the EPF was very welcome news for the environmental community, and many of the groups have been vocal in their support for the Governor’s budget.
OPRHP administers funding from four major EPF programs. In each case, the budget funding is continued at this year’s levels, honoring the Governor’s commitment to retain the EPF for traditional purposes:
- $16.2 million is provided for capital Stewardship projects, to be split between OPRHP and DEC.
- $13 million is allocated for matching grants to local governments and non-profits for park and historic preservation projects.
- $9 million is provided for grants to zoos, botanical gardens, aquaria, arboretums, and nature centers under the ZBGA program.
- $17.5 million is allocated to OPRHP’s and DEC’s open space land protection programs.
In conclusion, Governor Cuomo has clearly articulated the need for all parts of government to achieve costs savings and efficiencies in response to the fiscal crisis facing the state. State Parks is committed to fully participating in this effort, including implementing strategies to address the ten percent reduction to our General Fund appropriation, while maintaining the agency’s core mission and programs.
Serrano Thrilled with Memorial Day Weekend Attendance at State Parks
José M. Serrano
Posted on Friday, June 4th, 2010
“I am so thrilled and excited to learn of the major increase in park attendance that we are currently seeing. Now more than ever, we should recognize the significance that State Parks hold for the people of New York,” stated Senator José M. Serrano after the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation announced that with 1.17 million visitors over Memorial Day weekend (May 29-31), attendance at State Parks soared by 245,296 visitors. This translates to a 17 percent increase from the 2009 holiday weekend.
Serrano, who is the Chair of the Senate Committee on Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation, was a vocal advocate in the fight to keep State Parks open, after Governor David A. Paterson proposed budget cuts that would have padlocked many parks throughout the state.
“Had our parks been closed, the people of our state would have been deprived of one of our greatest natural resources,” said Serrano. “Our communities’ access to recreational and physical activities would have been greatly diminished. Additionally, the state would have lost significant revenue that, if Memorial Day weekend is any indication, will increase considerably from last summer.”
In addition to the increase in overall park visitors, the amount of State Park system campsites that were occupied over the holiday weekend increased by a whopping 88 percent when compared to last year. There was also a significant increase in sales of the Empire Passport, an annual pass that provides unlimited use of most of New York’s State Parks.
“Just as the state is undergoing a financial crisis, so is the average New Yorker,” said the Senator. “State Parks and Historic Sites are a worthwhile, economical alternative to expensive summer retreats, as they offer varied educational, recreational and relaxation opportunities that every New Yorker can enjoy.” He continued, “Thanks to the hard work and support of vocal parks advocates throughout our communities, Parks Commissioner Carol Ash and her staff, and the people of our state, we can all look forward to a thriving summer park season.”
NYSR – Thank You!
MEMORIAL DAY AT RIVERBANK – MAY 31, 2010
June 3, 2010
Lewis Burgess
When Governor Paterson and Commissioner Ash proposed to close dozens of NYS State Parks and historic sites and reduce operating hours, classes, pools, and services at dozens of others on February 19th, no one imagined that there would be an unrelenting state-wide outcry rejecting the proposal.
On March 3rd, Senator Jose M. Serrano and Assemblyman Steve Englebright rallied Senators and Assemblymembers to the cause. From beginning to end, the two legislators were unrelenting in their efforts to restore funding to NYS parks and historic sites Kudos to them.
And once informed, citizens across the state, upstate and downstate, began to organize hold rallies and campaign to keep our parks and historic sites open and operating as usual.
Riverbankers also rallied and campaigned to save Riverbank non-stop from March 4th to May 28th. Riverbankers joined together at rallies at Riverbank, in front of the NYS Office Building, and at a vigil on May 17th at the 137th Street entrance. Riverbankers called, wrote and met with legislators, interviewed with NY1, the Daily News, El Diario, Amsterdam News, DNAInfo, manned info and petition tables, bought Save Riverbank t-shirts and swim caps, made Riverbank videos for YouTube, designed graphics, blogged, reported, researched and Facebooked. 5,297 of us signed a petition that was sent to Governor Paterson, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Majority Conference Leader Senator John L. Sampson. The Riverbank Community of park users spread the word to save Riverbank.
Our local legislators also responded to the call to hold Riverbank harmless in the budget crisis. Assemblymen Daniel O’Donnell, Keith L.T. Wright and Herman D. Farrell joined the fray early with their March 3rd joint letter to Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. Senator Eric Schneiderman appealed to Governor Paterson and Senator Sampson on March 24th. Since then Herman D. Farrell carried the cause to the floor of the Assembly and fought for Riverbank. They all voted in the affirmative in the Senate and Assembly budget resolutions to restore NYS parks as well as the bills that freed the parks and historic sites from devastating budget cuts.
Quietly in the background, the Albany Office of OPRHP, the New York City Commission of the State Council of Recreation and Historic Preservation and Riverbank State Park administration and employees supported the Riverbank Community effort to restore the budget cuts from the beginning. Community Planning Board 9 sent a unanimously approved letter to Governor Paterson on May 21st.
The Riverbank Community thanks you all.
In the end, after much political brouhaha and wheeling and dealing in Albany, all NYS parks and historic parks where held harmless in the budget crisis on May 28th. The citizen’s outcry was heard, our parks were given back to us as it should be.
Press Release – SENATOR SERRANO’S PUSH FOR PARKS FUNDING PAYS OFF
Senator José M. Serrano
(Albany, NY) – Senator Jose M. Serrano (D-Manhattan/Bronx), chair of Cultural Affairs, Tourism and Recreation Committee sponsored legislation (S7776-A) that passed unanimously today in the Senate, allowing State Parks and Historic Sites to open for the summer season.
“We have made our voices heard, and there is now a light at the end of the tunnel” said Senator Serrano, who has spent the last several months making the case in Albany for funding State Parks.
This legislation requires that State Parks and Historic Sites maintain the same hours of operation as they did last year and allows the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to use funds already appropriated in the extender bills so that parks and historic sites are able to carry out preparations for the summer.
Senator George Maziarz (R-C, Newfane), co-sponsor of this bill said, “We need to implement a plan quickly so our closed state parks and historic sites can re-open and be enjoyed by the public as much as possible this summer season. Finding a way to keep these popular locations open in the face of our fiscal crisis has been of great importance to me, and this bill puts us on the right path.”
Serrano, who recently met with Governor Paterson to request that parks be included in future extender bills, and sent him a sign-on letter with broad bipartisan support to the same effect, said he applauded Paterson’s efforts to provide for funding to keep parks open but doesn’t agree it should come out of the Environmental Protection Fund.
“The EPF is vital to the long-term environmental health of the state by helping to sustain Zoos, Botanical Gardens, and Aquariums as well as municipal parks. Funding for Parks and the EPF must both be protected; otherwise New Yorkers will lose the quality recreational environment on which they have come to rely.”
The Senator took a proactive approach to keep state parks open and protect our historic treasures that affects million of New Yorkers.
“I am very pleased to pass legislation that we were able to give New Yorkers their parks back. With a 5 to 1 return on investment to the state, parks help generate $1.9 billion annually in economic activity and this bill ensures that we won’t miss the opportunity to bring in revenue this Memorial Day weekend.”
Assemblyman Steve Englebright is sponsoring this legislation in the Assembly where it will also be voted on later this week.
Politics on the Hudson – Senate delays action on bill to keep parks open
May 17, 2010
Senator Jose M. Serrano
The Senate delayed action Monday on legislation that would have directed the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to keep all state parks open. The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Jose Serrano, D-Bronx, does not include provisions for the money it would take that agency to do that.
The state closed 37 parks and 14 historical sites today, including the Donald J. Trump State Park in Westchester County, Newton Battlefield State Park in Chemung County, and Hamlin Beach State Park in Monroe County. Fourteen historic sites have been closed, and the state made service reductions at 23 other parks and one historic site.
Forty-one parks were originally slated to close, but the state Parks Department announced today that four parks would remain open as a result of either private donations or a county taking over operations, spokeswoman Eileen Larrabee said. Orleans County is taking over operations at Oak Orchard State Marine Park. The other three parks are on Long Island.
The parks have been closed while negotiations continue on how to close a $9.2 billion budget gap for the current fiscal year. The budget is now more than six weeks late.
Assemblyman Steve Englebright
This is the wording of the legislation, which is sponsored in the Assemblyman Steven Englebright, D-Suffolk County:
Introduced by Sens. SERRANO, ADDABBO, AUBERTINE, BRESLIN, KLEIN, MAZIARZ, MONTGOMERY, ONORATO, OPPENHEIMER, PARKER, SCHNEIDERMAN —
read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation — committee discharged and said bill committed to the Committee on Finance — reported favorably from said committee, ordered to first and second report, ordered to a third reading, amended and ordered reprinted, retaining its place in the order of third reading.
AN ACT in relation to requiring the office of parks, recreation and historic preservation to operate and maintain all state parks and historic sites under its jurisdiction during the fiscal year that ends March 31, 2011 pursuant to the same seasons of operation, hours of operation, service levels, and public access to facilities as were implemented at the beginning of the fiscal year that ended March 31, 2010
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. For the state fiscal year beginning April 1, 2010, the New
2 York state office of parks, recreation and historic preservation is
3 hereby authorized and directed to operate and maintain all state parks
4 and state historic sites under the office’s jurisdiction pursuant to the
5 same seasons of operation, and at least the same hours of operation,
6 service levels, and public access to facilities as were implemented at
7 the beginning of the fiscal year that ended March 31, 2010.
8 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
NCPR – State parks in limbo
NYS Parks Commissioner Carol Ash
The State’s Parks Commissioner says the late state budget is further impacting parks in New York that Governor Paterson has slated for closure. Carol Ash says the parks are in limbo until the legislature restores the funding, unable to hire seasonal workers, and in the meantime restrooms remain shut and grass needs mowing.
Karen DeWitt reports.
Click: http://tinyurl.com/y98dudd
Service reductions, campground closings, loss of revenue, privatization, and volunteer support for parks to keep them open touched upon. 1000-1500 seasonal workers may be out of work if the budget is not approved by May.
NYS Senate – Committee Meeting: Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation Meeting – Carol Ash and NYS Parks
Senate Standing Committee on Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation
Senator Jose M. Serrano, Chair
9:30 AM, Thursday, April 8, 2010
The Committee is joined by Carol Ash, Commissioner of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation at 2:38. Sen. Eric T. Schneiderman is a member of this committee. He is not present.
OPRHP Press Release – Commissioner Carol Ash’s Remarks Before NYS Senate Tourism and Parks Committee
April 08, 2010
Eileen Larrabee
Dan Keefe
518.486.1868
Thank you Senator Serrano and members of the Tourism and Parks Committee for inviting me here to discuss the challenges facing the New York state park system. Let me start by addressing the issue on everyone’s mind – park closings.
In response to the fiscal crisis facing New York State, the Governor’s Executive Budget proposal includes reductions to every part of state government. Painful and difficult choices must be made to address New York’s $9 billion deficit.
State Parks are no exception. The Executive Budget proposes to reduce OPRHP’s general fund support by $29 million, which equates to a 16 percent reduction to the agency’s operating budget. This reduction is on top of recurring cuts that have already been implemented over the past two years.
State Parks has identified a number of steps – such as continued attrition of permanent staff, across the board reductions to non-personal service and seasonal staffing budgets, eliminating all vehicle purchases for the second year, and canceling our Park Police Academy for the third straight year – that total $18 million in savings.
However, 85 percent of the agency’s operating budget is spent on the costs of operating our 213 State Parks and Historic Sites. In order to achieve the final $11 million of required savings, we have no choice but to cut parks operations.
In February, we released a list of 55 State Parks and Historic Sites that have been identified for closing, along with cutbacks at an additional 24 parks. These actions would generate net savings of $6 million. In addition, the Governor proposed that OPRHP receive $5 million from the Environmental Protection Fund for park operating expenses. Without this funding, the agency would need to close an additional 33 State Parks and Sites. In total, 88 parks and sites are at risk of closing, generating a total of $11 million in operating savings. I have distributed the list of park closings and service reductions.
When the proposal to close state parks and historic sites was announced, the Governor expressed a willingness to have a dialogue about that plan, along with the many other difficult decisions to close the budget deficit.
In their budget resolutions, both the Senate and Assembly proposed restoring $11 million to OPRHP’s operating budget to avoid the need for park closures. I am grateful for this sign of support. However, the Governor has insisted that any plan to restore funding to keep our parks and historic sites open this year must fit within an overall strategy to address our budget crisis and close a $9 billion budget deficit.
Given that there is no final state budget at this time, our agency has neither funding nor authorization to open the 55 State Parks and Historic Sites that were identified for closing. Therefore, we have canceled camping reservations at those parks that will be closed, and we have offered to refund deposits to those who have made reservations at parks that will see significant service reductions, such as pool and beach closures. Practically speaking, most of the parks and historic site slated for closure were already shut down over the winter, and they will remain that way for now. Lifeguards and seasonal workers aren’t being hired; picnic tables will stay in storage; bathrooms will stay closed.
We are working with our regional directors and site managers to refine plans for each park and historic site, including taking steps to ensure people don’t get hurt in dangerous areas of closed parks. We will be continually reassessing these steps on a park-by-park basis.
Apart from operating costs, another critical element to park access is park infrastructure. The Executive Budget proposes that OPRHP receive $15 million from the Environmental Protection Fund “stewardship” category to make basic repairs. These are not projects that we want to do, but projects that we have to do. They are necessary investments to address health and safety issues and keep our parks available and accessible to the public.
Examples include: Designing a replacement for the failing Goat Island Bridge at Niagara Falls State Park; Replacing failing and DOT flagged bridges in Harriman, Niagara Falls, and Buttermilk Falls State Parks; Upgrading drinking water systems at Jones Beach and Taconic State Parks; Renovating bathrooms at FDR, Wildwood and Letchworth State Parks; and Rehabilitating the failed roof at the Roberto Clemente and replacing the heavily-used gymnasium floor at Riverbank State Park.
The Senate budget resolution includes $15 million in capital funding to address these critical capital investment needs. However, the Assembly resolution zeroed out OPRHP’s capital funding. It is essential that State Parks capital funds be included in the final budget agreement.
It’s important to note that we also need more federal assistance to address the $650 million capital backlog facing the State Parks System. While our great National Parks received federal stimulus funding for capital projects, none of the state park systems received stimulus funding. For New York State, that’s a particular problem. Because the National Park movement began west and travelled east, New York State has few National Parks. In addition, the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the main source of federal funding for parks, has declined sharply over the last three decades. Last year, our state received $1.4 million from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, down from a peak of $20 million in 1978. New York’s great natural and national treasures are a part of the state park system and we should be getting more assistance from the federal government.
New York is fortunate for the Senate’s partnership in protecting our abundance of scenic beauty, recreational opportunity and historic significance through our world class state parks system. Thank you for helping to sustain the State Park System’s unique contributions to the well-being of our citizens and economically vibrant local communities across New York State in these difficult times. I welcome your questions.
Save Riverbank 
NYSR – Lawmakers have not understood the Governor’s position on restoring funds
Senator Serrano’s and Assembly Englebright’s Letter to Governor Paterson – view on Scribd
April 15, 2010
Lewis Burgess
In the letter above, Senator Jose Serrano and Assemblyman Steve Englebright call on the governor to include funding for parks in emergency spending bills so that OPRHP will be adequately funded and NYS State parks slated for closure will remain open.
In the last week of March, both the Senate and Assembly passed budget resolutions to keep the parks open. But this remains only a recommendation; they have not yet resolved their position with each other or the governor.
Nevertheless, Senator Serrano and Assemblyman Englebright write:
“While we remain confident that a budget agreement will soon be reached in a manner which will prevent closures to State Parks and Historic Sites, in the interim we must adequately fund OPRHP. The continued passage of extender bills (or the lack of a current State Budget) could prevent the opening of 34 State Parks come May unless future extender bills provide sufficient funding to allow OPRHP to begin preparing for the upcoming summer season.”
The legislators are correct. No money, parks may close. However, we know Governor Paterson’s position. He will not honor requests for funding for the NYS State Parks or Riverbank without submission of alternative spending cuts or additional sources of revenue. The well intentioned legislators are making an appeal with a bark but no bite. The Governor will not comply with this request and thinks little of the Federal government threat to discontinue federal funding calling the effort interfering and petty on WOR710 AM on Thursday
So let us add some bite to the legislator’s request.
Here are proposals to cut spending and generate savings and revenues for Riverbank:
These suggestions can be applied to the OPRHP offices and the eight remaining regional offices.
If these suggestions ring hollow to Park administrators, then to make ones that ring true, they need to release regional and park budgets and/or annual reports of revenues and expenditures to the public so we can see what the actual financial state of affairs is within the State Parks. We have had no success in obtaining this public information after requesting it from the NYC Regional Office, OPRHP in Albany or through the offices of two Senators and the Comptroller.
WHERE ARE WE NOW?
Legislators are home, their staffs are busy at work and we have positive but uncertain inside news that the majority of the proposed Riverbank cuts will be restored. But the $3.2 billion in unreconciled spending cuts and revenue plans and the usual opaqueness that surrounds Albany legislative wheeling and dealing leaves much uncertainty. The new budget is expected next week; anything can happen.
WHAT CAN I DO?
Call – Call legislators to ask what they are doing for Riverbank and how their work is going. Help your family, relatives and friends to make calls to legislators – Call Campaign – Find your Elected Official
Sign – sign the petition at the Park and online – have others do the same
Buy – Buy a “Save Riverbank” t-shirt and wear it – spread the word.
Become a Facebook Fan – http://tinyurl.com/yhmlbb8
VOLUNTEER! – save.riverbank@yahoo.com