Urgent: Parks to close unless you speak out!

If there's one time New York's parks need your help it's now.

The Governor's proposed budget slashes funding for state parks. If the budget passes as is, there will be no choice but to close parks, according to Parks Commissioner Carol Ash. How many and which parks are still unknown. But it's likely that one of the parks you love and use will be on the list.

Please take just five minutes to help parks by contacting your legislators this week.

State parks and historic sites contribute $2 billion to the state's economy, returning $5 for every $1 the state invests. Park closures will devastate many of our communities, where parks are the main economic engines. In addition to boosting the economy and providing jobs - 20,000 in addition to state park employees - parks provide safe, affordable recreation close to home and they protect many species of wildlife and plants. In this tough economy, more people are using state parks than ever before.

Legislators will be deliberating the budget over the next week, so they need to hear from you now!

Here are three things you can do to help parks:

1) Send an email to your legislators

Dear Senator/Assembymember (name),

I strongly urge you to oppose any cuts to New York State's budget that would result in the closing of State Parks and Historic Sites. State Parks and Historic Sites are economic engines that contribute $2 billion dollars and generate 20,000 jobs annually to the New York State Economy. At a time when more people than ever are visiting our parks and historic sites because they are close by and affordable, closures will deprive our communities of much-needed revenue, and jobs.

Of course parks and historic sites are more than revenue and job creators.They enhance our quality of life, and (Your Area) residents take great pride in (name of your parks/historic sites. Please fill in any local information about your park - for example, how you use it and what it means to you and the people you know.)

Considering the great wealth and pride our parks and historic sites provide our communities, they are but a tiny investment for New York. Parks and Historic sites are only one-quarter of one percent of the state budget. Yet despite their great return for so little an investment, the Executive Budget proposed to slash State Parks funding by 20%. I understand that the state is in a dire economic situation right now, but cutting parks by such a disproportionate amount is unjust and imprudent.

(Your park or historic site) is an economic engine that also enhances the quality of life for my neighbors and me. Please prevent the closing of our (park/historic site) by restoring the funding State Parks need to safely operate all of their statewide facilities.

Sincerely,

(Your Name, Address, and e-mail)

To Contact Your Assembly Member: http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/
To Contact Your Senator: http://www.nysenate.gov/contact_form
To Contact the Governor: http://www.ny.gov/governor/contact/index.html

2) Call your legislators.

Legislators get a lot of e-mails so calls carry more weight. And calling is a lot less scary than you might think you'll probably just leave message with a staff person.

Hi, my name is your name and I'm calling from (your address). I urge legislator's name to restore the draconian cuts in funding to State Parks and Historic Sites proposed in the 2010-2011 Executive Budget. Parks are economic engines that generate $2 billion annually in New York State. If the budget is passed, parks will have suffered 40% cuts to their operating budget in the last two years and will force many parks to close. I understand that it's a tough economic year, but parks contribute to our economy, and they have taken more than their fair share of cuts.

3) Visit your legislator in person.

The absolute most effective way to persuade legislators is to meet with them one on one. That's why we're holding a Parks Advocacy Day in Albany on March 3 and looking for people to organize meetings with legislators in their home district offices. To sign up for Parks Advocacy Day or to volunteer to help organize district meetings send your name, e-mail, address, and phone number to ptny@ptny.org.

We will help you every step of the way. Below are talking points for visiting legislators. Please let us know if we can help you in any way.

• If the Governor's budget proposal is enacted, State Parks' operating budget will have been slashed 40 percent over the last two years, forcing many State Parks and Historic Sites to close.
• Closing parks will hit surrounding communities hard. Parks are economic engines that generate $1.9 billion and 20,000 jobs annually (not including park staff). These jobs are long term, sustainable jobs that will last as long as we protect and maintain state parks.
• A good number of parks are located in upstate New York, where the economy has been suffering longer than the current economic meltdown. The closing of parks would exacerbate upstate New York's economic woes.
  The benefits State Parks provide New York far outweigh their cost. State Parks make up a mere one-quarter of one percent of the total state budget. For every dollar spent on parks by the state, our state's economy enjoys a five dollar return.
• If you close a park, you lose revenue (entrance fees, camping fees, picnic shelter rentals, etc.--all park revenues remain with the agency). Park revenues account for a third of OPRHP's operating budget. Every $1 million in park closings generates only $650,000 in net budget savings. The cost of reopening a park, once closed, is substantial raising the likelihood that at least some of the coming closings will be permanent, not temporary.
  Of course, the State Park System is more than a boon to the state's economy. State Parks also maintain the state's ecosystem and biodiversity, provide affordable opportunities for recreation, reduce the negative effects from pollution, improve health outcomes, and preserve areas of historic importance.
• However, even the environmental and public health benefits contribute to the New York's economy. Businesses and their employees are attracted to areas with well maintained parks because they contribute to a better quality of life. 
  55 million people visit our parks each year--during this challenging fiscal time demand for parks is at an all-time high. During 2009 parks usage increased by nearly 2 million visitors.

29 Elk Street * Albany, NY 12207 * (ph) 518-434-1583 * (fax) 518-427-0067 * ptny@ptny.org