Park Closings/Service Cuts Not "Serious Issues" - Gov. Paterson

Bayswater Point State Park - Queens NY.- May 16, 2010.  The 12 acre natural area located in far Rockaway Jamaica, was closed over the weekend. Gov. Paterson's attempt to hold parks hostage has not endeared him to fellow lawmakers or to the public. (Photo By Geoffrey Croft/NYC Park Advocates)

With no budget deal in sight, one of Governor Paterson's cost-cutting proposals is receiving national attention. NY1's Erin Billups filed the following report.

According to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Governor David Paterson's proposed reductions for state parks makes the Empire State the poster child for endangered parks and historic places.

"There are very few states where the situation is as dire as it is in New York State," said National Trust for Historic Preservation Northeast Director Wendy Nicholas.

More than 80 parks and historical sites are facing closures or a reduction in their hours because the governor wants to cut more than $11 million from their budget.

Speaking to legislative leaders during a meeting Tuesday, Paterson said he’s trying to send them a message.

"The reason we’ve had a bare-bones emergency appropriations is to try and get all of you to act on the budget," said the governor.

Instead, Paterson says lawmakers seem to be fixated on restoring funding to parks during an election year rather than focusing on the bigger budget picture. In a Monday meeting with Assembly Democrats, Paterson said concerns over park closures came up four times.

"When you start hearing ancillary discussions when you have the governor in your midst and you could be talking about the serious issues. You get the impression that people aren’t serious," Paterson said.

Lawmakers, however, say the governor is the one who doesn’t get it.

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Park Closures A 'Dire' Example Of State's Standing

NY 1 - May 19, 2010 - By Erin Billups

Community Board 8 Rejects Year Round Tennis Concession

Community Board  8 on the Upper East Side nearly unanimously rejected a proposal Wednesday night that would have allowed a private tennis club from operating year-round on public park land. Currently the tennis concession charges up to $ 180 per hour on  the Queensboro Oval softball field under the 59th Street bridge which operates in the park up to eight months of the year. The board voted 35 to 2, with two abstentions.  The vote came five months after the concessionaire had already signed a contract which is a strong point of contention because opponents of the plan charge they had not been properly notified of the proposal. A Walk In The Park has learned however that the contract has not yet been registered by the Comptroller's office.

The night saw many passionate appeals on behalf of park users, families and park advocates. Lawsuits were also mentioned numerous times by opponents of the plan if the Parks Department did not cancel the contract. Manhattan Parks Commissioner William Castro has publicly stated on several occasions that the city would listen to the community in making its determination. Meanwhile permits have not yet begun to be issued for the outdoor softball season which begins shortly  –  Geoffrey Croft 

MANHATTAN

It was a small crowd of people making a potentially giant decision whether to allow an expanded season at Sutton East, a tennis club under a bubble beneath the Queensborough Bridge on the far East Side, according to NY 1.

"These are the facts -- 2,000 people play tennis at the Queensboro Oval every week, 17 hours a day in a location that's convenient, safe and open rain or shine. We employ more than 50 people, we charge no membership fees, people can play and take classes on our courts for as little as $45 an hour," said Sutton East Owner Tony Skolnick.

Opponents to year-round tennis say residents should not have to pay to play on public land.

"The issue here is not tennis versus softball, it's not rich versus poor and it's not who uses it," said Upper East Side resident Bob Bailin. "The issue here is this is a public space, this is a public park that's being sold to a private entity, that's the issue."

After listening to testimony from both sides, Community Board 8 rejected the city and the tennis concession's proposal to have tennis in the bubble all year long, opting to leave the arrangement as it is -- eight months for tennis, four for other activities like softball when the bubble is down.

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UES Board Deflates Year-Round Tennis Proposal

NY1 - March 17, 2010 - By Rebecca Spitz 

No Gang War,  but a Turf Battle Nonetheless

New York Times City Room - March 18,  2010 , By ELISA MALA

Upper East Side Land Grab As Parks' Looks to Sell Ballfield to Tennis Concessionaire

A Walk In The Park - February 17, 2010 

Hundreds Rally To Cut Programs At Riverbank State Park

Hundreds of residents hoping to prevent the state budget ax from falling on a popular Manhattan park turned out for a rally in West Harlem Saturday to try to save some of the recreational facility's programs. NY1's Ruschell Boone filed the following report.

MANHATTAN

Carol Martin has spent years at Riverbank State Park, learning how to swim, dance, play the guitar and do other activities. Now, some of those programs are on the chopping block due to State Parks Department budget cuts, and the thought of losing the programs Martin believes has helped her to develop a healthy lifestyle left her in tears.

"I come here five days a week. I need it, we need it. We have a fantastic dance program and they do innovative things, especially for the seniors and the children," said Martin.

Hoping to save the programs, Martin joined more than 200 park users at a rally Saturday to protest the proposed cuts to operating hours and programs.

"Riverbank is known for its wide array of outdoor concerts. They would not happen at Riverbank and they also have a number of events for seniors they will be cut," said resident Elizabeth Brett. "The children's performances, the Popsicle Series, will be cut. There will be devastating cuts for the summer camp."

"This facility for this community is critical. They talk about the health, that people are getting unhealthy and getting fatter. You don't take away facilities that take away life skills," said instructor Wendy Hilliard.

At the rally, many demonstrators accused the state of going back on a promise it made to the community decades ago in exchange for building a waste treatment facility at the site.

"I understand that there's a budget crisis, but they need to honor that promise as long as they are sending 170 million gallons of raw sewage into this community everyday," said Brad Taylor of Community Board 9.

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Community Rallies To Save Cut Programs At West Harlem Park

NY 1 - March 13, 2010 - By Ruschell Boone