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Dear Friend of Parks,

If there's one time New York's parks need your help it's now. 

The Governor's proposed budget slashes funding for state parks.  If the budget passes as is, there will be no choice but to close parks, according to Parks Commissioner Carol Ash.  How many and which parks are still unknown.  But it's likely that one of the parks you love and use will be on the list. 

Please take just five minutes to help parks by contacting your legislators this week (see below for instructions). 

State parks & historic sites contribute $2 billion to the state's economy, returning $5 for every $1 the state invests.  Park closures will devastate many of our communities, where parks are the main economic engines.  In addition to boosting the economy and providing jobs-20,000 in addition to state park employees-parks provide safe, affordable recreation close to home and protect many species of wildlife and plants.  In this tough economy, more people are using state parks than ever before. 

Legislators will be deliberating the budget over the next week, so they need to hear from you now!

Here are four things you can do to help parks:

1)Send an email to your legislators

Sample email (please feel free to copy and paste):

Dear Senator/Assemblymember name,

                I strongly urge you to oppose any cuts to New York State's budget that would result in the closing of State Parks and Historic Sites.  State Parks and Historic Sites are economic engines that contribute $2 billion dollars and generate 20,000 jobs annually to the New York State Economy.  At a time when more people than ever are visiting our parks and historic sites because they are close by and affordable, closures will deprive our communities of much-needed revenue, and jobs. 

                Of course parks and historic sites are more than revenue and job creators.  They enhance our quality of life, and Your Area residents take great pride in name of your parks/historic sites.  Please fill in any local information about your park--for example, how you use it and what it means to you and the people you know. 

                 Considering the great wealth and pride our parks and historic sites provide our communities, they are but a tiny investment for New York.  Parks and Historic sites are only one-quarter of one percent of the state budget.  Yet despite their great return for so little an investment, the Executive Budget proposed to slash State Parks funding by 20%.   I understand that the state is in a dire economic situation right now, but cutting parks by such a disproportionate amount is unjust and imprudent. 

                Your park or historic site is an economic engine that also enhances the quality of life for my neighbors and me.  Please prevent the closing of our park/historic site by restoring the funding State Parks need to safely operate all of their statewide facilities.

Sincerely,

Your Name, Address, and e-mail

To Contact Your Assembly Member Click Here

To Contact Your Senator Click Here

To Contact the Governor Click Here

2) Call your legislators.  Legislators get a lot of e-mails so calls carry more weight.  And calling is a lot less scary than you might think - you'll probably just leave message with a staff person.  Use the links above to find your legislators'  phone numbers.  

Sample call script:

Hi, my name is your name and I'm calling from your address .  I urge legislator's name to restore the draconian cuts in funding to State Parks and Historic Sites proposed in the 2010-2011 Executive Budget.  Parks are economic engines that generate $2 billion annually in New York State.  If the budget is passed, parks will have suffered 40% cuts to their operating budget in the last two years and will force many parks to close.  I understand that it's a tough economic year, but parks contribute to our economy, and they have taken more than their fair share of cuts. 

3)Share this e-mail with your Friends.  Please Forward this email to all of your friends, and post this link to your Facebook, Twitter, and other social media accounts. 

4)  Visit your legislator in person. The absolute most effective way to persuade legislators is to meet with them one on one.   That's why we're holding a Parks Advocacy Day in Albany on March 10 and looking for people to organize meetings with legislators in their home district offices. Save the Date!