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March 3, 2010

State parks advocates rally in Albany

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ALBANY (AP) — Two state lawmakers say blocking $11.3 million of the $20 million in proposed budget cuts to the state parks system will prevent the Paterson administration from closing dozens of state parks and historic sites.

State Parks Committee Chairman Sen. Jose Serrano of the Bronx and Assemblyman Steve Englebright of Suffolk County called for restoring the funding as parks advocates rallied Wednesday in Albany to protest the budget cuts.

The state parks office has said it will close 41 of 178 parks and reduce services at 23 others. They also plan to shut down 14 of 35 historic sites because of the state's budget crisis.

Three of the sites slated for closure are in the North Country: Point au Roche State Park in Beekmantown, Macomb State Park in Schuyler Falls and the John Brown Farm in Lake Placid.

Local grassroots efforts are under way to try to save those parks.

Earlier this week, parks officials said they had canceled about 350 campsite reservations at 12 of the state parks that could be closed this year, including Macomb.

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