The response to Gov. David A. Paterson's plan to close dozens of state parks, including six in Western New York, went something like this Friday:

What is he thinking?

"Even in the Great Depression, parks weren't closed," said Robin Dropkin, executive

director of the advocacy group Parks & Trails New York, who questioned whether the savings

were worth it.

"To me, it just says New York is going down the tubes," she said.

Paterson proposes closing 41 parks and 14 historic sites come April 1, and reducing

services at 23 other parks, including the cash cow Niagara Falls State Park.

His plans, unveiled Friday, would save $6.5 million. The state's budget deficit for the

coming fiscal year amounts to $8.2 billion.

Paterson also wants to raise parks fees by $4 million. And even more parks will close if

the State Legislature bows to pressure from certain environmental groups and refuses to funnel

$5 million from the Environmental Protection Fund into park operations.

Unless Paterson works something out with the Legislature, these parks will close when

the first round hits April 1:

Woodlawn Beach State Park in Erie County.

Knox Farm State Park in Erie County.

Joseph Davis State Park in Niagara County.

Wilson-Tuscarora State Park in Niagara County.

Long Point State Park in Chautauqua County.

Oak Orchard State Marine Park in Orleans County.

Chimney Bluffs State Park in Wayne County.

The potential second round would close Evangola in Erie County; Reservoir State Park, Artpark

and DeVeaux Woods in Niagara County, and Silver Lake State Park in Wyoming County.

It is unclear, though, what "closed" means.

At Allegany State Park in Cattaraugus County, for example,Paterson would close the

Quaker Area swim beach, close the Quaker Cabins Area on Dec. 1, eliminate winter trails

maintenance and reduce recreation programs.

Two of the state's most popular parks — Jones Beach on Long Island and Niagara Falls

State Park — would remain open but offer less after April 1.

Jones Beach's west swimming pool will close, and no July 4 fireworks would be displayed

this year.

Niagara Falls State Park would be among the many to have its interpretive programs reduced

during the summer months to save $126,000.

The park, among the oldest in the state system, drew 7.9 million visitors last year and

remained one of only a few to turn a profit.

"It would be a great disservice in the most-visited park in the state to cut back on

anything, especially any of the interpretive people," said Paul Gromosiak, a local historian

and the author of two books about the history of Niagara Falls State Park.

"You need to have people there to remind people how to behave and, at the same time, answer

their questions with authority," he said.

This would otherwise be a year for celebration at Niagara Falls State Park, which marks its

125th year. But what now?

"What are we going to do, mourn?" Gromosiak said. "What kind of celebration would it be to

reduce the welcome in Niagara Falls State Park, and that's exactly what would be done by

reducing anything in Niagara Falls State Park."

In announcing the closures, Paterson said he's wrestling with a historic budget deficit.

"In an environment when we have to cut funding to schools, hospitals, nursing homes and

social services, no area of state spending, including parks and historic sites, could be

exempt from reductions," he said.

"Certainly attendance and revenue were part of the process we used in determining which

parks to close and which would stay open," explained Dan Keefe, a spokesman for the state

parks system. "There simply is not a perfect way to do it."

Al Caccese, executive director of Audubon New York wondered what it means to "close" a park.

"Are you taking all people out of there? What about securing facilities?" he asked.

Keefe was asked whether access will be denied to visitors under threat of arrest? Or can

visitors enter at their own risk, which was common when Erie County closed parks during its

mid-decade budget meltdown?

"Given that each park is different, it really hasn't been determined what that means yet,"

Keefe said. "These are general operational savings we are looking at right now, and the nitty-

gritty of what actions are going to be taken in the parks hasn't been determined."

Town of Wilson Supervisor Joe Jastrzemski said the town will consider keeping open the 395-

acre Wilson-Tuscarora State Park if the state cannot.

"The Town of Wilson relies on the park in many ways," he said. "It has a well-used boat

launch. ... Our summer recreation program is held there. Our businesses benefit from the

visitors who go there. If the state can't keep it open, we can. We would like the opportunity

to develop it further to be an even greater asset to the community."

If the state parks office gets out of the town's way, said State Sen. George D. Maziarz,

"Wilson-Tuscarora will be open this year. This is a beautiful area on Lake Ontario, and we

have to find a way to keep it open."

"We here in Erie County witnessed, firsthand, the negative impact of closing parks when the

county closed parks to save money," said Sen. William Stachowski, D-Lake View. "The parks

quickly fell into disrepair, which actually cost more money to fix when they reopen. There was

vandalism and theft, and with the vast amount of real-estate involved, there is no way to keep

people out of a closed park if they are determined to enter.

"The suggested savings end up costing much more in the long run," he said.

The Preservation League of New York agrees.

"New York State is proposing not just locking the door of many of the state's historic

sites, but recalling collections of furniture, artifacts, and paintings to Albany, turning off

heat and water, and abandoning these buildings to the storm of budget cuts," said Daniel

Mackay, the league's public policy director.

"The consequence could be irreparable harm to buildings and materials that are central to

our state and national history. Closure puts these buildings and sites at great risk of damage

from the elements or vandalism, and many of our treasured historic sites could be lost

forever."