Submitted by Tom Andersen on Fri, 03/05/2010 - 2:04pm.
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Westchester Land Trust’s Executive Director Ben Spinelli joined Assemblyman Robert J. Castelli and other local leaders on Friday, March 5, at a rally to oppose the possible closure of the John Jay Homestead State Historic Park.
“The John Jay Homestead is an important part of the area’s history and celebrates a man who helped shape New York State and America,” Assemblyman Castelli said. “State government has an obligation to protect New York’s heritage and historic treasures, even in the toughest of economic times. Be assured that I will do everything in my power to keep this site open and help preserve an important piece of American history.”
Governor Paterson’s proposed cuts to the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) in the 2010-11 Executive Budget has put the John Jay Homestead Historic State Park on the list of state parks that could close. To ensure that the park remains open, and prevent the closure of other parks, Assemblyman Castelli is working to restore at least $5 million to OPRHP in the enacted state budget.
“We are very close to ensuring that the John Jay Homestead Park remains open and continues to be utilized as an important educational tool for area students,” Castelli said.
Assemblyman Castelli said the only proposal being considered in Albany to restore park funding is the transfer of $5 million from the Environmental Protection Fund to the parks budget. Ben Spinelli said that Westchester Land Trust thinks this is a good short-term solution only and that money must be found to keep the parks open and to keep the EPF fully funded. The governor is proposing to cut both.
"While we understand that hard choices must be made in difficult economic times, the governor’s budget proposals regarding the Environmental Protection Fund constitute a direct attack on the current and future quality of life for all New Yorkers,” he said.
“Shutting parks and historic sites like the John Jay Homestead prevent the state’s residents from enjoying the investments in these precious resources that have already been made while the elimination of funding for future acquisitions threatens our ability to make the necessary new investments that will ensure that New York will remain a great place to live and a competitive location for attracting new residents and businesses."
The John Jay Homestead Historic State Park encompasses sixty-two acres, including gardens, magnificent woodland walks and rolling hills, which preserves the region’s open space and natural beauty.
There are also a number of 19th Century farm buildings at the historic site providing information on John Jay (1745-1829), one of America's principal founding fathers. Jay co-authored the Treaty of Paris, which ended the Revolutionary War, and the Federalist Papers, which aided ratification of the U.S. Constitution. He served as president of the Continental Congress, U.S. Secretary for Foreign Affairs, first Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, and was the second governor of New York State.
Those interested in joining the fight to keep John Jay Homestead Historic State Park open can do so by going to http://www.johnjayhomestead.org/site/saveourparks.html
“The John Jay Homestead is an important part of the area’s history and celebrates a man who helped shape New York State and America,” Assemblyman Castelli said. “State government has an obligation to protect New York’s heritage and historic treasures, even in the toughest of economic times. Be assured that I will do everything in my power to keep this site open and help preserve an important piece of American history.”
Governor Paterson’s proposed cuts to the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) in the 2010-11 Executive Budget has put the John Jay Homestead Historic State Park on the list of state parks that could close. To ensure that the park remains open, and prevent the closure of other parks, Assemblyman Castelli is working to restore at least $5 million to OPRHP in the enacted state budget.
“We are very close to ensuring that the John Jay Homestead Park remains open and continues to be utilized as an important educational tool for area students,” Castelli said.
Assemblyman Castelli said the only proposal being considered in Albany to restore park funding is the transfer of $5 million from the Environmental Protection Fund to the parks budget. Ben Spinelli said that Westchester Land Trust thinks this is a good short-term solution only and that money must be found to keep the parks open and to keep the EPF fully funded. The governor is proposing to cut both.
"While we understand that hard choices must be made in difficult economic times, the governor’s budget proposals regarding the Environmental Protection Fund constitute a direct attack on the current and future quality of life for all New Yorkers,” he said.
“Shutting parks and historic sites like the John Jay Homestead prevent the state’s residents from enjoying the investments in these precious resources that have already been made while the elimination of funding for future acquisitions threatens our ability to make the necessary new investments that will ensure that New York will remain a great place to live and a competitive location for attracting new residents and businesses."
The John Jay Homestead Historic State Park encompasses sixty-two acres, including gardens, magnificent woodland walks and rolling hills, which preserves the region’s open space and natural beauty.
There are also a number of 19th Century farm buildings at the historic site providing information on John Jay (1745-1829), one of America's principal founding fathers. Jay co-authored the Treaty of Paris, which ended the Revolutionary War, and the Federalist Papers, which aided ratification of the U.S. Constitution. He served as president of the Continental Congress, U.S. Secretary for Foreign Affairs, first Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, and was the second governor of New York State.
Those interested in joining the fight to keep John Jay Homestead Historic State Park open can do so by going to http://www.johnjayhomestead.org/site/saveourparks.html