The Bona Venture

Issue date: 3/19/10 Section: News

Local skiers protest the closing of sections of Allegany State Park and Quaker Lake.
Image courtesy of Talbot Eckweiler

Several St. Bonaventure University students and staff members attended a rally hosted by a local senator protesting a shutdown of certain sections of the Allegany State Park at Quaker Lake Saturday.

New York State Senator Cathy Young, with an estimated crowd of 400, protested against a $6.5 million proposed budget cut by Gov. David Paterson that would close the Quaker area cabins Dec. 1, eliminate winter trail maintenance and close Quaker Lake beach and other recreational programs.

Chuck Walker, professor of psychology, said it was inspiring to see a huge turnout for a local cause, despite rainy weather.

"I think cutting a park like this one is pennywise and pound foolish," he said. "Money is generated for this whole region because people visit this park."

The proposed budget cut by Gov. David Paterson would close 55 state parks and historic sites and reduce service at 24 sites, according to an article from Sunday's Olean Times Hearld.

Dan Toomey, director of communications for Young, said the park receives approximately 1.8 million visitors per year and 782,000 for the Quaker Lake area alone.

Toomey said he did not know the amount of money the park brings in, and the Cattaraugus County Tourism office did not return phone calls by press time.

Carole McNall, assistant professor of journalism and mass communication and a resident of western New York for 35 years, said the park's visitors bring in necessary added revenue for businesses around western New York.

"I've seen a number that more than $1 millionis brought into this area by people that visit that park," she said. "This is not a rich area, and tourism is one of the things we can do."

Young echoed the statement.

"We all recognize that we are confronted by challenging fiscal realities, but our parks provide a diverse and quantifiable range of benefits that immeasurably improve our quality of life and our economy," she said in a Feb. 19 press release. "Closing or cutting services at these parks is the wrong strategy at the wrong time."

Walker, an avid cross-country skier and member of the Allegany Nordic Club, said the proposed cuts are "discriminating against people of lower income."

He said the park provides a pleasant vacation at a reasonable price and does wonders for someone's health.

"I literally, some winters, put more miles on my skis than my own car," he said. "I think it's contributed substantially to my health and well-being. And I'm not the only one."

Bonaventure students also attended the rally.

One of those students is Breanna Farner, a senior journalism and mass communications major.

"There is an awful lot of willingness to get involved in trying to make a difference (at Bonaventure)," she said.

Farner took photos at the rally and posted them on her blog at bmariephotography.wordpress.com.

Allegany State Park is the largest park in New York at 65,000 acresAccording to enchantedmountains.info.The park offers 18 hiking trails, 5.6 miles of paved trail and 35-plus miles of trails at the Art Roscoe Recreation Area for cross-country skiing or snowshoeing. It also features campsites, cabins, cottages and equipment available for rental, according to the Web site.

A "Save the Allegany State Park!!!" Facebook page, created specifically for the rally, had 10,293 fans as of Tuesday.

e-mail: leetd09@sbu.edu

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