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Park Enhancement

Page history last edited by Timothy Golden 13 years, 7 months ago

 

 

Scope of the Problem Past Policy 


  • There is a path within the park which ends in an open field instead of being fully extended to the parking lot
    • This would allow easier access to the park
    • This incomplete walkway impedes the effective use of bicyclists and pedestrians
  • The pond within the park has no pathway around it
    • This would allow easier access to the pond and would create an attractive pathway for bicyclist and pedestrians 
  • In total what the park lacks the most is development in the way of accessibility  

 

Past Policy Current Policy


 

Current Policy


  • Parks and Trails New York - http://www.ptny.org/greenways/hthp/index.shtml

    • The above link is an example of a New York program to fund the rehabilitation of trails the below links go over expanding of the trail networks and why it is a benefit to the community to do so 

  • Expanding Parks - http://www.ptny.org/advocacy/campaign_for_parks.shtml 

    • Parks & Trails New York’s Parks Campaign is committed to protecting, expanding, and promoting parks in New York State.  Every year we work with thousands of volunteers and members who share these goals.  We bring together the people who use and love parks, Friends organizations that support our state parks and historic sites, and other environmental organizations to promote and protect parks for future generations.  

 

    • New York’s parks preserve priceless landscapes and ecosystems, provide opportunities to improve our physical health and mental well-being, and enhance our quality of life.  Often overlooked, but equally important, is our parks’ contribution to the economy.  Each year about 56 million people visit the 178 state parks and 35 historic sites that comprise the state park system.  And, as highlighted in Parks & Trails New York’s report, The NYS Park System: An Economic Asset to the Empire State , our state parks generate nearly $2 billion in economic benefits for the state and local economies and create more than 20,000 jobs in addition to state parks employees.  

 


Often, however, parks get the short shift in the budget process.  Years of neglect led to a $650 million backlog in infrastructure needs in our state parks.  Crumbling buildings, bridges, and water treatment systems are a few of the many capital projects in need of funding.  

The past few years have been especially troublesome for State Parks’ operating funds.  From 2008 to December 2009, State Parks’ operating budget was slashed 25%.  Services and hours were cut in 2009 at many parks and historic sites. 

    •  
    • Overall Goals of the Campaign for Parks

      • Ensure that state parks are adequately funded and remain open, clean, safe, and accessible
      • Build a bigger, unified, and more vocal constituency of parks supporters
      • Organize parks Friends organizations and other parks supporters into a broad-based, effective force for New York’s parks, mobilized to protect parks’ extraordinary legacy for years to come
      • Increase federal support of parks through increased funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund
      • Increase private support of state parks
      • Continue to educate legislators about the contributions of parks to the health, quality of life and economies of their districts and the entire state
    •  

      Off of (Parks and Trails New York Campaign for parks page http://www.ptny.org/advocacy/campaign_for_parks.shtml) 

       

Key Organizations/Individuals   


  • Government
    • Town of Colonie
      • Paula A. Mahan Supervisor
        • 518-783-2700  
    • Town of Colonie Parks and Recreation Department
      • Alicia Osur director of community services
        • 518-783-2760  
  • Non-Profit - Advocacy/Membership/Network
    • Parks & Trails New York
      • 29 Elk Street * Albany, NY 12207 * (ph) 518-434-1583 * (fax) 518-427-0067 * ptny@ptny.org 
  • Foundation
  • Other
    • Siena College 515 Loudon Road Loudonville, New York 12211-1462 phone 518-783-2300

 

Bibliography   


 

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