It’s official: NYS to close John Brown Farm – 9 parks slated for closure in North Country

The official list was released a few minutes ago. Crown Point state historical site is no longer on the list.

John Brown’s farm is slated for closure.

Also on the list in the North Country:

JEFFERSON COUNTY

Canoe Island State Park
Cedar Island State Park
Keewaydin State Park (marina would stay open, according to the Watertown Daily Times)
Mary Island State Park
Sackets Harbor State Historic Site

ST LAWRENCE COUNTY

Eel Weir State Park

CLINTON COUNTY

Macomb Reservation State Park
Point Au Roche State Park

Governor Paterson:

“New York faces an historic fiscal crisis of unprecedented magnitude. It has demanded many difficult but necessary decisions to help ensure the fiscal integrity of our State. The unfortunate reality of closing an $8.2 billion deficit is that there is less money available for many worthy services and programs. In an environment when we have to cut funding to schools, hospitals, nursing homes, and social services, no area of State spending, including parks and historic sites, could be exempt from reductions. We cannot mortgage our State’s financial future through further gimmicks or avoidance behavior. Spending cuts, however difficult, are needed in order to put New York on the road to fiscal recovery. Going forward through the budget process, I look forward to a productive dialogue with the Legislature on parks and historic sites, as well as other issues.”

OPRHP Commissioner Carol Ash issued the following statement:

“The 2010-11 Executive Budget included reductions to every area of State spending. As such, the Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation has today put forward proposed closures and service reductions to meet its agency savings target. These actions were not recommended lightly, but they are necessary to address our State’s extraordinary fiscal difficulties.”

More on the closures during All Before Five today at 4:45 pm.