NY state parks make group's endangered list

New York's state park system and those in more than 25 other states where facilities have closed or services have been reduced because of budget cuts have earned a spot on a national preservation group's annual list of the most endangered historic places.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation is scheduled to announce its 2010 list of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places Wednesday in Washington. The list highlights the predominant national preservation group's choices of the most important examples of architectural, cultural and natural heritage at risk for destruction or irreparable damage.

"Across the nation, state parks and state-owned historic sites are on the chopping block," said trust president Richard Moe.

The most closings are in the 125-year-old New York State park system, the nation's oldest. The state closed 37 parks and 14 historic sites Monday to save $11.3 million. These included abolitionist John Brown's farm in North Elba and Georgian-era Philipse Manor Hall in Yonkers.

"I will be crestfallen if we don't see our parks open this summer," Gov. David A. Paterson said Tuesday to reporters. He blamed the Legislature for not looking at serious budget cuts and revenue enhancement measures.

The closed parks on Long Island are Brookhaven and most of Nissequogue River. Orient Beach and Caleb Smith were saved by corporate and nonprofit group donations while the mountain biking club CLIMB saved Trail View and Cold Spring Harbor by agreeing to take over maintenance.

Moe said, "America's state parks and state-owned historic sites are threatened - perhaps more than at any other time in recent history" - with as many as 400 state parks closing in New York, Arizona and Pennsylvania and deep cuts in hours and services in California and New Jersey."Chronic underfunding has endangered the Empire State's irreplaceable natural and historic resources," said Jay DiLorenzo, president of the Preservation League of New York State.