Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

October 22, 2008

Contact:
Eileen Larrabee
Dan Keefe
518.486.1868

Comments by Commissioner Carol Ash at FY 2009-10 State Parks Capital Funding Budget Hearing

Thank you for inviting me here today to discuss the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation's capital budget. I truly appreciate this opportunity to review capital projects initiated through the current fiscal year, and to discuss our agency's on-going efforts to revitalize New York's State Parks and Historic Sites next year.

New York's State Park system is made up of 178 Parks and 35 Historic Sites encompassing 325,000 acres of lands and waters. The system is widely recognized as one of the best in the nation. Our parks and historic sites host more than 55 million visitors annually. Among the fifty states, we rank first in the number of operating facilities, and, when campgrounds operated by DEC are included with ours, first in the total number of campsites. We are fifth in total acreage and third in total annual visitation.

Our huge inventory of public recreational facilities include 5,000 buildings, 29 golf courses, 53 swimming pools, 76 beaches, 27 marinas, 40 boat launching sites, 18 nature centers, 817 cabins, 8,355 campsites, more than 1,350 miles of trails, 106 dams, 640 bridges, hundreds of miles of roads, and dozens of historic structures listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places.

Niagara Falls State Park, established in 1885, is the oldest state park in the nation, and Washington's Headquarters, established in 1850, is the first publicly-owned state historic site. The Bethpage Black was the first publicly-owned golf course to host the U.S. Open Golf Championship in 2002. The 109th United States Open Championship will return to this world-class facility in June of next year.

At the State Parks Capital Budget Hearing one year ago I presented testimony on the significant capital investment needs of our state parks. Simply stated, the State Parks system has been suffering from decades of underinvestment, with the result that our recreational facilities and infrastructure are in dire need of rehabilitation and replacement. Many parks have significant health and safety concerns that require immediate attention. Our park buildings and infrastructure are aging and deteriorating, diminishing the outdoor experience for those 55 million people who come to our parks every year.

If you recall, during 2007, I initiated a comprehensive review of the size and scope of the agency's capital needs, gathering detailed information on the most pressing capital improvement needs across our 213 sites. This assessment identified a backlog of critical capital projects needs approaching $650 million.

How did a $650 million capital backlog come to be? Over the fifteen year period, from 1992 through 2007, the State Park System grew. Twenty-six new parks and 70,000 acres were acquired, representing a 25% increase in the system. But over this same period, the State Park's Capital budget was cut by 50%, adjusting for inflation. At the same time, agency staffing levels were reduced by 250 positions. Cutting the capital budget by 50% and reducing operations staffing, while expanding the system by 26 new parks, led to a predictable outcome - we were faced with the challenge of addressing a large backlog of health and safety and park rehabilitation needs.

Fortunately, this year Governor Paterson and the Legislature responded to this challenge by providing funding to begin to address parks' capital backlog. The current year FY2008-09 state budget created a new State Parks Capital Initiative. This initiative, coupled with other funds OPRHP secured from federal, state, and private sources, enabled the agency to launch a $100+ million program to revitalize the State Parks System.

Of the total $95 million State Parks Capital Initiative appropriation, $75.5 million was allocated to OPRHP. As charged by the Governor and the Legislature, we aggressively set out to efficiently spend these dollars. As of today - just over halfway through the fiscal year - OPRHP has spent or encumbered 94% of the $75.5 million.

Let me repeat, at the mid-point of the fiscal year, we have already spent or have under contract $71.4 million of the $75.5 million provided to the agency this year - and we have initiated bidding and contract awards for the remaining $4.1 million.

The agency is on track to encumber the entire $75.5 million by March 31, 2009, and the visiting public will see substantial improvements to our State Parks during next year's summer operating season.

OPRHP's $100 million capital investment is delivering tangible, on-the-ground benefits to the residents of New York State. The agency has initiated 201 capital construction projects to remedy health and safety issues and rehabilitate deteriorated facilities in State Parks and Historic Sites across the state - addressing health and safety concerns, and providing safe and affordable recreational and educational experiences for millions of New Yorkers.

These capital investments will not only improve the parks and protect the state's investments in irreplaceable public assets, but is also supporting upwards of 1,000 private sector construction and engineering jobs to bolster the state's economy in these very difficult times. The nature and scope of agency capital work also make them ideal projects for small to medium-sized construction firms, businesses that will be most impacted by the economic downturn.

Here are some examples of the types of State Park revitalization projects made possible by this year's State Parks Capital Initiative.

• Bear Mountain State Park Pedestrian Passageway.
  This improved pedestrian passageway provides park visitors with safe and attractive access - under busy State Route 9W - from the main park area to the Bear Mountain swimming pool and trailside zoo. At this park, the agency also rehabilitated the Perkins Memorial Tower, which was originally constructed in the early 1930s and serves as an observation tower at a breathtaking scenic overlook atop Bear Mountain. An example of a successful public/private partnership, the half a million dollar Tower project was completely funded through private dollars.
• Four Mile Creek State Park Comfort Station Renovations.
  At Four Mile Creek in Niagara County, we have replaced a structure that burned down several years ago, bringing the park into compliance with NYS sanitary code. The building features several "green" components including water saving fixtures and skylights, and is handicapped accessible.
• Letchworth State Park.
  At Letchworth, seven miles of park roads were repaired and repaved, and several public parking areas were resurfaced - addressing critical but long-deferred park infrastructure needs. Other projects initiated at Letchworth this year include waterline improvements and construction of a new washhouse to serve campers. Camping at the park was booked to capacity for most of the summer. Letchworth is a popular and significant tourist attraction in the Genesee region of the state, hosting about 750,000 visitors each year.
• Saratoga Spa State Park.
  The large Peerless Pool complex, including the handicapped-accessible main pool, slide pool, and toddler pool, were rehabilitated. A new pool liner was installed to improve durability, eliminate water leakage, and improve the comfort and footing of swimmers. In addition, a number of the park's roads, parking areas, bike paths, and walking trails were resurfaced, and improvements were made to the Little Theater. The spa park attracts 1.7 million visitors annually.
• Allegany State Park Cabin Loop Restoration.
  Last year, we showed you pictures of severely deteriorating cabins at this park. This past summer, we initiated phase one of the cabin loop restoration project that will rehabilitate deteriorated public rental cabins throughout the park, which has 424 campsites and 375 cabins spread throughout its 65,000 acres. Allegany is a top destination for campers, hikers, and nature lovers. We are told that the renovations are being received very well by campers and the feedback by park patrons is very positive.
• FDR State Park Bathhouse.
  This bathhouse provided another of last year's memorable "uglies". Capital projects completed using this year's funding include the rehabilitation of bathhouse and pool fencing. FDR State Park, located in Westchester County, draws 570,000 visitors annually.
• Green Lakes State Park Bathhouse Reconstruction.
  This summer, State Parks broke ground on the construction of a new $2.3 million bathhouse at the swimming beach in this popular park, located near Syracuse. The new bathhouse will incorporate many of the existing architectural styles of the original Green Lakes buildings constructed in the 1930's, blended with today's building code updates, handicapped accessibility, and green technologies. The bathhouse will open to the public for Memorial Day weekend, 2009. The park hosts 850,000 visitors annually.
• Jones Beach State Park Boardwalk Reconstruction.
  Jones Beach has an annual visitation of over 7 million visitors a year. The primary boardwalk extends from the east bathhouse to the west bathhouse which is approximately 6/10 of a mile. Three years ago, 19,680 sq. ft. of boardwalk were replaced. During this year's capital program, 27,280 sq. ft. have been replaced and by the end of phase 3 of the project, currently underway, 58,000 sq. ft. will be replaced.
• Riverbank Traffic Circle.
  State Parks is replacing the traffic circle roadway which provides the park's main entrance for vehicles, including public buses. In addition to the traffic circle, the agency is letting contracts this Fall to rehabilitate failing roofs and HVAC systems at Riverbank, and has upgraded the parks' landscaping, including rehabilitation of irrigation lines, new plantings, and replacement of more than 100 trees donated by the Million Tree Project - another example of a public/private partnership. Riverbank, located on the Hudson River in Harlem, just celebrated its 15th anniversary and in that time has become an integral part of the community, serving two million visitors a year.
• Brentwood State Park-Park Development.
  Construction has begun at Brentwood State Park in Suffolk County, a major athletic complex that will provide greatly needed playing fields in this underserved area. This first phase of construction, which includes sixteen soccer fields and four baseball fields, is slated to open in the summer of 2009. The park will serve thousands of children in a community that has been very much in need of recreational facilities.

These are just a few highlights. All told, this year's capital initiative funding enabled the agency to undertake capital improvements in more than 80 State Parks and Historic Sites across New York State.

The State Parks Capital Initiative also allocated $8 million to the Department of Environmental Conservation (to fund improvements to 20 DEC-operated campgrounds and environmental centers) and $3.5 million to the Department of Agriculture & Markets (to make capital improvements to the New York State Fairgrounds).

The final $8 million was allocated to the Walkway Over the Hudson, which is transforming the abandoned Poughkeepsie railroad bridge into the world's longest pedestrian walkway. This public-private design and construction project, which will be operated as a State Park, is one of the state's major legacy investments leading up to next year's celebration of the Hudson-Champlain Quadricentennial, marking the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson's voyage of discovery. The Walkway project, which is on schedule to open with a major celebration in October 2009, will be a major new tourism and economic development asset for Poughkeepsie and the mid-Hudson region.

By any measure, the State Parks Revitalization Initiative is off to a solid start. However, contrasted against a capital backlog of $650 million, much more remains to be done. As I outlined last year, the bulk of OPRHP's capital needs fall into two categories:

• Health and Safety Projects.
  The State Parks continue to face a number of health and safety issues. We have outdated drinking water systems that need to be replaced. We have aging sewage treatment systems that have exceeded their useful life. We have dams on the state's "high hazard" list that do not meet modern dam safety standards, and bridges that have been flagged as potential hazards. We have failing electrical systems and underground petroleum storage tanks that must be removed. And we have landfills that, although inactive for many years, were never closed to DEC standards.
• Rehabilitation of Existing Facilities.
  This category is by far the largest, comprising approximately two-thirds of OPHRP's total identified capital needs. It encompasses capital rehabilitation of existing infrastructure in the Parks and Historic Sites - replacing facilities that have long exceeded their practical and operational effectiveness and are in various stages of disrepair, including roofs, heating and plumbing systems, contact stations, visitor centers, bathrooms, campgrounds, shower buildings, boat launches, picnic shelters, recreation fields, pools, swimming pools, bathhouses, nature centers, roads, parking areas, hiking trails, and maintenance centers. It also includes a significant backlog of repair and maintenance needs for historic buildings and structures at our Historic Sites, as well as energy-efficiency investments in aging buildings.

Looking forward to next year, the agency hopes to continue momentum on revitalizing New York's State Parks and Historic Sites.

We understand that decisions about next year's investment in our State Parks need to be made in the context of the unprecedented fiscal picture facing New York State. Like all state agencies, we are tightening our belts, reducing operating expenses, and focusing on the agency's core mission and priorities. Nonetheless, I believe that, even in this time of fiscal difficulty, continued funding for New York's State Parks' capital program is a smart financial investment. The State Parks Capital Program can deliver:

• Safe and Affordable Parks.
  Last summer saw a new trend - the "staycation" - with economic concerns and the high price of gas leading families to seek affordable, close-to-home vacation opportunities. Visitation at parks was very strong this summer and, given the challenging financial outlook facing millions of New Yorkers, we expect continued heavy public demand next year for our campgrounds, cabins, picnic and swimming areas, lakes and ocean beaches, and other recreational facilities.
• Job Creation.
  Through this year's capital program, OPRHP has entered into 150 contracts and more than 400 subcontracts with private, local construction and engineering firms. Given the nature of our projects, we are contracting with small and medium-size local contractors. OPRHP is advancing construction contracts in nearly every county in the state, supporting upwards of 1,000 construction and engineering jobs across the state. And, I am pleased to report that over the past two years, more than 13% of the agency's capital construction spending has gone to minority- and women-owned businesses.
  While this is a statewide effort, it is worth noting that the capital program has provided an infusion of economic activity to our struggling upstate economies. This year's investment through the State Parks Capital Initiative amounts to millions of dollars in many of our upstate counties. For example, we are spending more than $4 million in Cattaraugus County; over $3 million in Erie County; nearly $4.5 million in Jefferson County; nearly $5 million in Niagara County; and close to $4 million in Onondaga and St. Lawrence counties.
• Tourism.
  Revitalized State Parks and Historic Sites directly support recreational tourism, which is one of New York's largest industries. Over the past year, our agency has developed a close working relationship with Economic State Development's I LOVE NY campaign, actively marketing our parks and historic sites as tourism destinations for state residents and visitors from across the country and around the world. A recent survey indicated that nearly eighty percent of park visitors participate in dining, shopping and recreational activities outside the park during a park visit. To grow our tourism industry, we need to make sure that these visitors have high-quality experiences, so that they will return in the future and tell others to do the same.
• Economically Vibrant Communities.
  Parks, open space, and recreational amenities are important community assets that directly contribute to the economic vitality of cities, towns, and rural areas - enticing businesses to locate and stay in New York. It's worth noting that Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) plans to invest $4.6 billion in the new chip-fab plant in Saratoga County, announced earlier this month by Governor Paterson and legislative leaders, includes a $5 million commitment by AMD to support local parks, recreation facilities, and community projects - a leading example of how private corporations value quality of life in deciding where to invest for the future.
• Healthy Families.
  Parks provide a place for New Yorkers of all ages to recreate and exercise. By investing is safe and attractive facilities, the initiative is part of a comprehensive state strategy to promote public health and wellness, particularly among children and underserved communities.

This year, OPRHP has proven our ability to quickly and efficiently put State Parks Capital Initiative Funds to work - creating jobs and making tangible, lasting improvements to our public facilities. Over the coming weeks I look forward to working with you to fashion a State Parks Capital Budget that continues momentum on this initiative, within the confines of what is affordable within an overall state budget that must respond to the extraordinarily challenging fiscal climate.

I also recognize that, in these difficult financial times, OPRHP must leverage the state budget by securing additional sources of funding. Next year, the agency will take steps in increase federal and private support for New York's State Parks:

• Federal Funding.
  This year, New York State's allocation from the primary source of federal parks funding - the Land & Water Conservation Fund - is only $1.2 million - down from a high of $23 million in 1979. Over the past six months, I have served as a member of a bipartisan blue-ribbon panel, led by U.S Senators Jeff Bingaman and Lamar Alexander, to develop a set of recommendations for the next President and Congress to rebuild the federal funding commitment to parks and recreation. The panel will deliver its recommendations early next year. In addition, OPRHP is working with our Congressional delegation to seek funding in the federal budget for several high-priority parks projects, such as the Walkway Over the Hudson.
• Private Support.
  New York's State Parks and Historic Sites have benefitted from more than a century of private philanthropic support. We need to reinvigorate this legacy. Over the past year, the State Council of Parks and our eleven Regional Parks Commissions have been laying the groundwork for a major private campaign to raise serious contributions from individuals, foundations, friends groups, and corporations to support the Parks Revitalization effort.

In closing, I want to thank Governor Paterson and members of the state Senate and Assembly for their support for New York's State Parks System. As I have traveled the state over the past two years - from Long Island's magnificent ocean beach parks, to our urban parks in New York City, to our hundreds of facilities across upstate New York - everywhere I go I have received universal support for the parks from our state's elected officials. Supporting our parks is a sound investment in the future of our state, and the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation is committed to continuing to make wise use in this investment in the future.

Thank you, and I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have.

• Additional Documents
• State Parks Capital Funding Budget Presentation (pdf)