PLATTSBURGH — Supporters of Point au Roche State Park will gather at the south end of U.S. Oval Sunday, March 21, to raise their voices against the proposed closure of the popular picnic and hiking area.
New York state recently released a list of parks slated for closure in 2010 as part of an effort to reduce a multi-billion-dollar deficit in the state budget.
Locally, Point au Roche Park in Beekmantown, Macomb State Park in Schuyler Falls and John Brown Farm in Lake Placid were included on that list.
The Friends of Point au Roche State Park group has been outspoken in its efforts to keep the picnic area and public beach open for the upcoming season.
With support from Plattsburgh State students and the community in general, the grass-roots organization will use the March 21 rally to emphasize those efforts.
Organizers are asking people to bring signs to the rally and to ride bikes, walk, bring kayaks on the top of cars and carry birding binoculars to represent all of the activities that people enjoy at the park.
The rally will be held near Assemblywoman Janet Duprey's office at 202 U.S. Oval in Plattsburgh from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Petitions will be available for people to sign.
For more information, contact Mary Simmers at simmersml@aol.com, or call her at 1 (443) 465-4914 or at 562-0323 after March 18.
