If Gov. David A. Paterson's budget passes, numerous parks in Westchester County would close, and others – including the Rockefeller State Park Preserve in Sleepy Hollow – would see a severe reduction or elimination of specific services.

Last month the Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation(OPRHP) announced the closure 55 parks and historic sites - plus service reductions at 23 parks and one historic site – to help close the State's $8.2 billion deficit.

If the 2010 – 2011 budget is adopted by its April 1 deadline, Parks Commissioner Carol Ash said there will be no choice except to close parks and cut services.

Lips are sealed at the Rockefeller State Park Preserve, whose interpretive (nature and education) services would be eliminated, since the budget is still pending approval.

"I think any cut like that would be very unfortunate, the village likes to take use of those resources. We like to see everyone have access to the programs," said Sleepy Hollow Trustee Bruce Campbell.

Alex Schnee, park manager, Rockefeller State Park Preserve, would not comment and directed all calls to the main office.

The cutbacks would save the state $45,000, said Dan Keefe, Deputy Public Information Officer. "I'm not at liberty to say anything more about it," Keefe said.

Here in the Taconic Region, which encompasses Westchester County, two additional parks would be severely impacted. Donald J. Trump State Park would close, FDR (Roosevelt) State Park would see a reduced swimming season.

"Parks (& Trails New York) never close parks and is not in the business of closing parks," said Parks & Trails New York Executive Director, Robin Dropkin.

"Right now they're looking at each park (in the state), what it will mean to close a park, how much money it will save, that sort of thing," she said.

Benjamin H. Cheever, member of the Friends of the Rockefeller State Park Preserve Board of Directors, said, "I sympathize fully with the state's problem with budget shortfalls, but why not enlist volunteers? This crisis can be used to make us a stronger community."

Dropkin said that even volunteer work requires funding.

"It takes money to organize them (volunteers), and people's passion is wonderful," Dropkin said. "Our goal is to get the money restored so we can keep the parks open this year." 

Assemblywoman Sandra R. Galef (D - 90th Dist), felt that many of the cuts may be inevitable in the region, and that the state should focus on keeping parks open, and settle for reductions in services.

"Everything is being cut across the board," Galef said. "Trump Park (in Yorktown) has not been fully developed, in my opinion; swimming at FDR Park will be cut back.

"The key word is 'prioritizing.'  Interpretive programs, such as the one at Pocantico/Rockefeller Preserve will be eliminated," she said.

Governor David A. Paterson issued the following statement relating to his budget cut proposals, part of which said:

"We cannot mortgage our State's financial future through further gimmicks or avoidance behavior. Spending cuts, however difficult, are needed in order to put New York on the road to fiscal recovery.

"Going forward through the budget process, I look forward to a productive dialogue with the Legislature on parks and historic sites, as well as other issues."

However, many feel that balancing the state's budget by axing community and recreational parks and programs is the wrong line item to focus on.

"Closing the parks is a horrible idea, and there are plans to close some of the public swimming pools," Cheever said. "This is heartbreaking."