By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – A pastor of a Buffalo church is fighting to reopen Erie County parks.
The Reverend Darius Pridgen of True Bethel Baptist Church says he has launched the "Stop Catering to the Rich" campaign. Pridgen is circulating petitions that call for the parks to reopen.
He says he's not pleased to see two county golf-courses reopening, while all Erie County taxpayers are unable to use the parks. Pridgen says even if the county has to charge a user fee, lawmakers must open the parks for residents.
The petition drive will run through April 28th. The congregation of True Bethel is helping Pridgen with the drive.
The church is selling T-shirts to raise money for buses to transport inner city children to the county golf courses. The T-shirt reads "Erie County -- Where the Poor Pay and Rich Play."
Meanwhile, the County Legislature has not made any decision yet on plans to reopen the parks.