Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

April 09, 2009

Contact:
Press Contact:
Jim Hall
845.786.2701

State Parks Announces 2009-10 Operating Schedule Changes for the Palisades Region

Park Patrons Urged to Take Note of Changes in Hours for Swimming, Historic Sites

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation today announced changes in the 2009-10 operating schedules at a number of parks and historic sites in the Palisades Region. The changes reflect a reduction in state spending at parks and historic sites.

"State Parks, like all state agencies, is responding to the current economic realities. We have been charged with making many difficult decisions and the changes we announce today are among them," said Commissioner Carol Ash.

"By concentrating the changes to the shoulder seasons, off-peak hours or facilities where similar services are available nearby, we hope to minimize the impact on our patrons," said Ash.

While approximately 100 parks and historic sites across the state will see some reduction in services, Ash noted that no parks have been closed in full, and the daily entrance fee to the parks is unchanged. In addition, a number of changes coincide with park repair and rehabilitation projects.

Changes for the Palisades Region are outlined below.

• Bear Mountain State Park: Swimming pool will open late (June 20). Winter operations reduced.
• Harriman State Park: Mid-week swimming beach closures - Welch Lake Beach closed Mondays and Tuesdays; Sebago Beach closed Wednesdays and Thursdays; Tiorati Beach closed all weekdays after August 21. Also, Beaver Pond campground will open two weeks late (May 1) and close two weeks early (October 12).
• High Tor State Park: The park will open late (June 28). The swimming pool will be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays (previously open 7 days/week).
• Minnewaska State Park: Swimming beaches will open two weeks late (June 20). Minnewaska Beach only will open one hour later (11:00am) and close one-half hour earlier (7:00pm). Winter cross-country ski grooming reduced.
• Rockland Lake State Park: The North swimming pool remains closed; the south swimming pool will open one hour later on weekdays (11:00 am) and will be open on weekends only starting mid-August (previously open 7 days/week until Labor Day). Winter operations will be reduced.
• Tallman Mountain State Park: The swimming pool will be closed Wednesdays and Thursdays and will close two weeks early (August 16).
• Historic Site Reductions. New Windsor Cantonment will be closed Mondays and will close for the winter two weeks early (November 1). Washington's Headquarters will be closed Monday and Tuesday (previously closed Mondays only). At Fort Montgomery, public and group programming will be eliminated on Wednesdays.

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