Oswego, NY -- U.S. Sen. Charles E. Schumer will be at Fort Ontario Monday to discuss a bill that could provide money to keep the fort and other state parks open next year. Fort Ontario and a number of state parks, including Chittenango Falls and Pixley Falls in Central New York, were set to not open for the 2010...
Sen. Charles SchumerOswego, NY -- U.S. Sen. Charles E. Schumer will be at Fort Ontario Monday to discuss a bill that could provide money to keep the fort and other state parks open next year.
Fort Ontario and a number of state parks, including Chittenango Falls and Pixley Falls in Central New York, were set to not open for the 2010 season because of state budget problems. Money finally was found to keep the fort and parks open this year.
Selkirk Shores swimming beach also was set to close, but by the time money was found to keep it open, the park couldn't find any lifeguards to hire. So the beach was closed all this season.
But Schumer said some money in the Senate energy bill could provide the funding necessary to reverse cuts to state parks and reduce the risk that Fort Ontario State Historic Site and other regional parks would have to be closed in the future. He also said it could also allow the state Parks Department to make critical upgrades and improvements to state parks.
Schumer will be at the fort at 2 p.m. and will be joined by members of the Friends of Fort Ontario. Schumer said he thinks state and municipal parks make an enormous contribution to communities and should not fall victim to state budget difficulties.