Preservation League Reacts to Park, Historic Site Closure List

ALBANY, NY (02/19/2010)(readMedia)-- "The Preservation League has long foreseen that ongoing cuts to the budget of the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation would lead us to the brink of widespread closures to New York's state parks and historic sites. Today's announcement confirms our worst fears. For this reason, we, along with Parks & Trails New York, jointly nominated the New York State Park system to the National Trust for Historic Preservation's 11 Most Endangered list," said Jay DiLorenzo, President of the Preservation League. "This is an extraordinary measure, but we consider the nomination -- and the national attention that would result if we are successful -- essential to securing the commitment of the Governor and Legislature to protect our state parks and historic sites from this budget crisis."

The 11 Most Endangered list is the National Trust's annual listing of historic places across America that are threatened by neglect, insufficient funds, inappropriate development or insensitive public policy. The 11 Most Endangered Historic Places for 2010 will be announced on May 19.

"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. The consequence could be irreparable harm to buildings and materials that are central to our state and national history," said Daniel Mackay, Director of Public Policy for the Preservation League. "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."