Press Release
April 29, 2011
Dan Keefe
518-486-1868
State Parks Partners with Town of Aurora to Ensure Public Access to Knox Farm
Agency will seek creative ideas to enhance park services in the future
Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Commissioner Rose Harvey today outlined a plan to operate Knox Farm State Park in partnership with the Town of Aurora for the 2011 season. In addition, State Parks will formally seek proposals from any interested public or private-sector parties to provide enhanced services at the park.
"It's important that Knox Farm State Park continue to be open to the public for people to walk, explore, exercise, and enjoy nature," Harvey said. "I am grateful for our partnership with the Town of Aurora to help ensure the park remains available to the public this year for a variety of passive and organized recreational uses."
"This plan would not be possible without the cooperative effort and financial support of our local sport and equestrian groups," Supervisor Jolene Jeffe said. "This tentative agreement will enable us to implement a long-term field plan that will benefit all of our town's sport programs and equestrian events. The Town of Aurora desires to do its part to preserve and protect this valuable asset until a permanent, long-range plan can be developed for the entire 633-acre park."
"I am elated, as will be the local residents, that Knox Farm State Park will be open for use. From hiking or jogging on the park's beautiful trails, to a guided bird walk with our friends from Audubon, Knox Farm offers many opportunities to be active and explore nature and I look forward to a summer of activity in the park. I also look forward to continuing to work with our partners on future opportunities to enhance the park's services," said Seymour Knox, President of the Friends of Knox Farm State Park.
Knox Farm had been identified for closure in 2010 due to reductions in the agency's permanent staff. However, after she was appointed parks commissioner by Governor Cuomo in January, Commissioner Harvey reviewed pending operational plans. As a result, State Parks will assign two seasonal staff members to the park this summer to mow firebreaks and roadsides, clean the public restroom, pick up litter, repair fences where needed, check buildings to assure they are secure, and other necessary tasks.
Under a tentative agreement with the Town of Aurora expected to be voted upon May 9, the town will maintain public facilities on the park area located south of Knox Road, including mowing, scheduling field use, and permitting. The soccer fields will continue to be available for use by the local soccer league and area schools. The town will assume responsibility for maintaining the equestrian area for use by such groups as the Tea Brooke Polo League and the East Aurora Driving Society.
In addition, through a nature programming partnership with Audubon, two weekend guided walks will be held each month in the park.
However, due to limited resources, the level of event programming at Knox Farm will be reduced. The annual Fiber Festival will take place in Emery Park in Aurora this year, and no permits will be issued for private events such as weddings.
Harvey noted State Parks also plans to issue a public "Request for Expressions of Interest" (RFEI) seeking suggestions from non-profit and for-profit entities on potential uses of park facilities, including the main house, the riding stables, and other buildings on the property. The RFEI is a mechanism to gauge potential interest from partner organizations for managing and improving the park. If responses to the RFEI identify appropriate activities, State Parks would then issue a formal, detailed Request for Proposals (RFP), subject to the state's normal competitive procurement process, for one or more specific activities in the park. The initial RFEI will be issued in the coming months with a goal to complete this process in advance of the 2012 operating season.
"In this difficult economy, the state needs to be more creative in how we stretch our limited resources to provide important services for the public," Harvey added. "We look forward to receiving suggestions and input from Niagara Regional Parks Commission, local elected officials, and the Friends of Knox Farm State Park as we advance the RFEI process."
New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees 178 state parks and 35 historic sites. For more information on any of these recreation areas, call 518-474-0456 or visit www.nysparks.com, connect on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.