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Jones Beach Will Suffer Some Closures This
Summer
Originally published in the 2009 April 23 edition of The
Wantagh-Seaford Citizen. The state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation recently announced that a reduction of services slated at Jones Beach and other state parks on Long Island this summer will trim $1.6 million from the state budget. At Jones Beach the East Bathhouse swimming pool will be closed as well as the West End beach (West End 2). Zach’s Bay swimming area will open for Memorial Day but then close until June 27 and will close for the season on August 16. Field 1’s ocean swimming beach will be open for three weekends only Memorial Day, July 4 and Labor Day – but will be closed all other weekends this summer.
“State Parks, like all state agencies, are responding to the current economic realities. We have been charged with making many difficult decisions,” said Commissioner Carol Ash. The East Bathhouse, which had 13,000 visitors last season was open to the public on weekends. Parks officials said approximately 100 parks and historic sites across the state will have some reduction in services. Other parks on Long Island have also seen cuts in services and hours. Caleb Smith State Park Preserve is now closed on Monday and Tuesdays, and public fly-fishing hours have been reduced. Caumsett State Historic Park will close early on weekdays at 5 PM. Heckscher State Park has shortened the swimming pool season by four weeks, opening on July 4 and closing August 17. Hempstead Lake State Park’s carousel will be open on weekends and holidays only instead of seven days a week. Robert Moses State Park’s Field 2 Beach will close for the winter four weeks early on October 31.
“There is definitely something wrong when our government tries to balance its books on the backs of the Boy Scouts, Little League and seniors,” said North Bellmore resident Lisa Schary of Long Island Environmentalists. “I moved out to Long Island to enjoy the open space – the ocean and parks. These open spaces are public spaces that belong to us.” State Senator Charles Fuschillo Jr. of Merrick said, “Eight million people visit Jones Beach each year. Families who are trying to save money in this economy by not going away on vacation will be relying even more on Jones Beach and other local parks for recreation. It is a shame that Long Islanders must suffer these service cuts while being asked to pay for more than $8 billion in tax and fee increases contained in Governor [David] Paterson’s budget. This is just another example of residents being forced to pay more to receive less. I am disappointed with Governor Paterson's decision.” Commissioner Ash noted that no parks have been closed in full and the daily entrance fee to the parks is unchanged. “By concentrating the changes to the shoulder season off-peak hours or facilities where similar services are available nearby, we hope to minimize the impact on our patrons,” she said. |
