State Parks Outlines New Fee Schedule

ALBANY, NY (04/01/2010)(readMedia)-- The New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation officials identified $4 million in fee increases to take effect for the 2010 season. The increased revenues are built into the 2010-11 fiscal year budget plan that calls for closing and reduced operations at dozens of state parks and historic sites, and will not change the number of parks and historic sites slated for those cutbacks.

The fee increases include:

• Golf Courses. Greens fees will increase various amounts depending on the course. The fee at Bethpage Black, home of the 2009 U.S. Open, will increase $15 per round, from $60 to $75 on weekends and from $50 to $65 on weekdays. Other courses will increase no more than $3 per round.
• Ocean Beaches Vehicle Use Fee. The fee will increase from $8 per vehicle to $10 per vehicle at parks with ocean swimming beaches.
• "Flagship" Parks Vehicle Use Fee. Fees will increase from $6/$7 per vehicle to $8 per vehicle at parks with significant amenities and high visitation. They are: Bayard Cutting Arboretum, Bear Mountain, Belmont Lake, Bethpage, Captree, Caumsett, Connetquot, Fair Haven, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Fort Niagara, Grafton Lakes, Green Lakes, Harriman/Lake Welch, Sebago and Tiorati, Hempstead Lake, Lake Taghkanic, Letchworth, Minnewaska, Montauk Point, Moreau Lake, Planting Fields Arboretum, Rockland Lake, Saratoga Spa, Southwick Beach, Valley Stream, Watkins Glen and Westcott Beach.
• Out-Of-State Camping Surcharge. A surcharge of $5 per night on campsites and $25 per week on cottage and cabin rentals will be added for out-of-state visitors, bringing New York in line with many states in the Northeast that charge an out-of-state differential.

In addition, a mandatory vehicle entrance fee for the Walkway Over the Hudson parking lot in Poughkeepsie will be established at a later date. Voluntary donation boxes, prominently placed with "suggested donation" signage, will also be erected at the Walkway.

These fee increases are helping to offset additional park service reductions for the upcoming season. The new fees will be in place for the 2010-11 operating season. Last year, fees were increased on campsites and cabins, the Empire Passport season pass, marina rentals, and golf courses, while vehicle use fees were unchanged. Fees collected by State Parks are dedicated by law to the operations, maintenance and capital improvement of New York's state parks and historic sites.

New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees 178 state parks and 35 historic sites. For more information on any of these recreation areas, call 518-474-0456 or visit www.nysparks.com.