By Bill Wolcott bill.wolcott@niagara-gazette.com
WILSON — Residents and neighbors packed the Conference Center at Wilson-Tuscarora State Park on Saturday to rally against Gov. David Paterson’s proposed closing of the park on West Lake Road on the banks of Lake Ontario.
Assemblywoman Francine DelMonte, D-Lewiston, brought residents, political leaders, members of Parks and Trails New York and Audobon New York together. Because the afternoon was raw, cold, rainy and windy, the protest was moved inside.
“It’s been a real bipartisan effort between Senate and the Assembly, Democrat or Republican to keep these parks open,” said DelMonte, who has received dozens of e-mails and petitions from residents who are upset with the plan to close 91 state parks.
“It’s important,” said state Sen. George Maziarz, R-Newfane. “First of all, the state of New York just invested millions of dollars and acquired property here. To close this park is just ridiculous. We don’t need money from Albany to keep this park open. What we need from Albany is the ability to keep some of the money that’s generated in Niagara County parks here. We have one of the highest revenue-generator parks in the state here, Niagara Falls State Park. If it could be used for parks here in Niagara County, we don’t need any more from them. Our answer is right here. There’s no reason for this park to close.”
DelMonte talked about using the Niagara Falls park money in the region, which includes parks in the southwest part of the state. Maziarz wants the Niagara parks money kept in Niagara County.
DelMonte argued the parks support thousands of jobs and generate millions of dollars. She suggested alternatives to closing the 395-acre park and endorsed ending the agreement that allows an outside contractor to book the campgrounds to save $1.25 million.
She would also trim the park regions in half, from 12 to six to cut down on administration.
Village of Wilson Mayor Patrick Kelahan said the park is vital to the county and a comprehensive plan is needed to keep the park open this summer and in the future. “It is our best opportunity right now to look at the underlying issues,” he said.
DelMonte sponsored new legislation on Friday that would require parks and recreation to conduct an environmental impact study and public hearing on any parks proposed for closing unless funds were appropriated to maintain the land.
