Press Release
November 03, 2008
Contact:
Eileen Larrabee
Dan Keefe
518.486.1868
State Parks Announces Fall/Winter Operating Schedule Changes
New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Commissioner Carol Ash announced changes to operating schedule for the remainder the fall and winter seasons. The changes are in response to the New York State economic climate, which requires all state agencies to adopt spending reduction plans.
Allegany
- Reduce services (reduced maintenance, reduced interpretive programs, closing restrooms) at Allegany Red House Area, Quaker Area and Long Point
- Early closure of Red House camping (11.30)
- Early closure of Lake Erie camping (10.14)
Central
- Early closure of Chenango Valley camping (10.19)
- Early closure of Hunts Pond camping (9.2)
- Close winter tubing hill at Glimmerglass
- Early closure of Oquaga Creek cabin (12.1)
- Close all golf at Green Lakes, Chenango Valley and Battle Island after Election Day holiday (11.4)
- Reduce tours and limit hours of Christmas program at Lorenzo
- Fort Ontario State Historic Site closed 10.31
- Herkimer Home closed 10.31 except to school groups by appointment
Finger Lakes
- Early closure of Newtown Battlefield camping and cabins (9.22)
- No winter cabins at Fair Haven (Close 11.30)
- Early closure of Springbrook Greens golf course (10.20)
- Reduce operating hours at Ganondagan Historic Site (Closed Sunday starting 10.5)
Genesee
- Early closure of Conesus boat launch (9.30)
- Early seasonal closure of Silver Lake State Park (9.30)
- Early closure of Oak Orchard boat launch (9.30)
- Reduce holiday events and programming. (Friends of Letchworth Trailside Holiday event cancelled; fewer interpretive winter programs.)
- Early closure of camping (10.13) and shelters (10.31) at Hamlin Beach
- Early closure of camping (10.13) and shelters (10.31) at Darien Lake
- Early closure of camping (10.13) and shelters (10.31) at Lakeside Beach
- Close winter operations of Trailside Lodge and tubing hill at Letchworth State Park
Long Island
- Closure of Field #2 at Robert Moses (11.1)
- Closure of golf course at Robert Moses (11.1)
- Reduce hours at Caleb Smith State Park Preserve (New hours Wed.-Sun. 8 am to 4 pm)
- Reduce hours at Bayard Cutting Arboretum (New hours Tues.-Sun. 8 am to 4 pm)
- Reduce services (maintenance, groundskeeping) at Bethpage, Caumsett, Heckscher, Hempstead Lake, Planting Fields, Sunken Meadow and Valley Stream)
- Close East Bathhouse - Jones Beach (11.3)
New York City
- Reduce holiday and other public programming at Riverbank: No Halloween Festival; cancel fall lacrosse, track and field and soccer teams; cancel winter lacrosse and tennis teams
- Reduce holiday and public programming at Roberto Clemente State Park: Cut senior social events in half; cancel eight ball tournaments; cancel wrestling tournament
- Close East River State park for winter (January, February, March.)
Niagara
- Early closure of Niagara Discovery Center (10.14)
- Early seasonal closure of Woodlawn Beach (11.1)
- Early closure of Golden Hill boat launch (10.14)
- Early closure of Wilson-Tuscarora boat launch (10.14)
- Early closure of Fort Niagara boat launch (10.14)
- Early seasonal closure of Joseph Davis (10.27)
- Early closure of Four Mile Creek camping (10.19)
- Early closure of Evangola camping (10.19)
- Close bathrooms ahead of schedule at DeVeaux, Devil's Hole, Reservoir and Whirlpool State Parks(11.7)
Palisades
- Reduce services by 2/3 at Fort Montgomery State Historic Site
- Reduce services by 2/3 at Knox Headquarters State Historic Site
- Reduce services by 2/3 at New Windsor Cantonment State Historic Site
- Reduce services by 2/3 at Senate House State Historic Site
- Reduce services by 2/3 at Stony Point Battlefield State Historic Site
- Reduce services by 2/3 at Washington's Headquarters State Historic Site
- Reduce holiday events and programming
- Reduce cross country skiing services at Minnewaska State Park. (Reduce 20 miles of groomed trails to 10)
- Service reductions in winter operations and comfort stations at Rockland Lake State Park (All comfort stations closed by 12.1)
- Reduce day-use services at Tallman Mountain and Harriman State Parks
- Close Sebago Beach section of Harriman (10.1)
- Close Lake Welch section of Harriman (11.1)
Saratoga-Capital District
- Early seasonal closure of Schodack Island State Park (10.14)
- Early closure of camping at Cherry Plain and Max V. Shaul (9-30)
- Early closure of Saratoga Lake boat launch (9-2)
- Reduce holiday events and programming
Taconic
- Reduce operating schedule of James Baird and Mills-Norrie (Dinsmore) Golf Courses (Weekends only starting 11.2; close 11.16)
- Suspend expanded weekday tour schedule at Olana State Historic Site
- Reduce holiday events and programming. (Eliminate holiday outreach program at Staatsburgh; cut programs at Clermont)
- Early closure (10.27) of Taconic (Bish Bash) cabins and campgrounds
- Close Clermont State Historic Site for Jan/Feb/March
Thousand Islands
- Wellesley Island cottages and cabins closed for winter (11-1)
- No warming building at St. Lawrence State Park golf course sledding hill
- Reduced snow plowing at Grass Point, DeWolf Point, Kring Point, Point au Roche