County: “Hands Off Our State Parks!”
Louise Hoffman Broach / Wayuga Editor
Tuesday, March 9 2010
HURON - The Wayne Board of Supervisors is wondering how many more signs it will have to stand in front of before the state is done with cuts that threaten the county’s already tenuous economy.
On March 4, 10 of the 15 supervisors gathered in front of Chimney Bluffs State Park to protest its inclusion on a list of 62 facilities to be closed to help make up a $6.3 million gap in the state’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation budget for 2010-2011.
Two weeks ago, supervisors stood in front of the sign outside the Butler Correctional Facility in Butler, protesting the inclusion of one of the two facilities there on a closure list for the Department of Criminal Justice Services.
Wayne County, where Democratic Gov. David Paterson has yet to set foot since taking over in the spring of 2008, seems like it is being particularly hard hit by cuts.
“Face it,” said one supervisor. “Most of us in this county are Republican.”
Camp Beechwood in Sodus is also on the parks closure list, but that park is even less improved than Chimney Bluffs, which has a paved parking lot and a building that contains bathrooms. Neither park is staffed.
County Board Chairman James Hoffman of Williamson questioned why the county’s only two state parks must close when other counties with several state parks are minimally impacted. This decision results in a disproportionately large impact to Wayne County, he said.
Chimney Bluffs State Park offers four miles of hiking trails and picnicking along the Lake Ontario shoreline. Chimney Bluffs are some of the most picturesque natural features found anywhere on the Lake Ontario shoreline, routinely attracting amateur and professional photographers from across the state and the nation.
“Chimney Bluffs is on the cover of the Wayne County Travel guide,” Hoffman said. “It is one of the region’s most important tourist attractions. With very little maintenance required to maintain trails and some restrooms, Chimney Bluffs State Park surely generates more revenue than it costs to operate.”
Russ Teeple, a member of the Huron Town Board and an area farmer, came out to stand with the supervisors on March 4.
“I can’t tell you how many people stop to ask us where Chimney Bluffs is,” he said. “It is used year-round.”
Supervisors are also questioning why $600,000 of State Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act funds were used to purchase Camp Beechwood, a former Girl Scout camp, in 1999 when just a little more than 10 years later the state wants to throw away its investment. Camp Beechwood is located on the shores of Lake Ontario and consists of 123 acres and nearly 2,700 feet of shoreline. The property is home to five distinct ecosystems and an abundance of wildlife. Trails bisect the property and although never formally opened, the property is still quite popular with hikers, nature photographers and cross country skiers.
Hoffman stated this is also a quality of life issue. Because families are cutting back on expensive vacations, state parks offer an affordable recreation choice. Further, Camp Beechwood and Chimney Bluffs State Parks provide a positive return on investment for the local and regional economy.
“The Board of Supervisors strongly opposes their closure and urges the state to reevaluate its decision to insure that all counties are impacted equally,” Hoffman said.
Sen. Michael Nozzolio and Assemblyman Robert Oaks, who represent Wayne County, say they will work to keep the parks open.
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