By Mark Scott
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Buffalo, NY – It now appears both houses of the State Legislature are prepared to support the restoration of $11.5 million in funding to keep all state parks open.
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Governor David Paterson proposed closing 41 state parks and 14 historic sites effective next Wednesday to help close the state's budget gap. But critics of the move say it barely would have made a dent in the more than $9 billion budget deficit while it would have inconvenienced thousands of New Yorkers.
At a news conference in Albany Thursday, State Senator William Stachowski said the closings just didn't make sense.
During an appearance in Buffalo yesterday, State Parks Commissioner Carol Ash said she's hopeful.
Among the local parks at risk are Woodlawn State Park in Hamburg and Knox Farms in East Aurora.