By Scott Brinton
He worries, though, that fewer services at the park might reduce the number of tourists at one of the country's best-known beaches.
With service cuts, McLaughlin predicted, the state will lose "a lot of tourists who come down here. People with all kinds of different license plates come here. People come down here with their families. People love to come down here with the children."
McLaughlin stood to one side as state Sen. Charles Fuschillo Jr., a Republican from Merrick, made an impassioned plea to Gov. David Paterson to restore cuts that have been made at Jones Beach and other state parks.
"In this economy, sitting on a local beach would be an affordable summer family getaway," Fuschillo said, "but Governor Paterson's cuts to the state parks across Long Island -- and especially Jones Beach -- will overcrowd areas and increase parking problems. Just a small percentage of Governor Paterson's discretionary funds would restore full access to beaches and parks at a time when families need them most."
The governor's state budget plan cuts $1.6 million from Long Island parks. According to the New York State Department of Parks and Recreation, Jones Beach's West End II ocean beach and the East Bath House swimming pool will be closed for 2009. The Field 1 ocean beach will be open on only three major weekends. The Zach's Bay swimming area will be open only on Memorial Day and between June 27 and Aug. 16.
About 8 million people used Jones Beach in 2008, and thousands used the East Bath House pool. With the closures at Jones Beach and other state parks staffed by Jones Beach lifeguards, the state will need 50 fewer lifeguards.
In addition to Jones Beach, Long Islanders will face service reductions at Hempstead Lake, Heckscher, Caumsett and Caleb Smith state parks. Fuschillo said the governor could -- and should -- use money from the almost $1 billion in discretionary funds he has available to keep the parks fully operational.
"Constituents are calling all the time," Fuschillo said. "They're expecting to use all of the parking lots and parks."
Parks advocate Richard Schary of North Bellmore said, "Every person on Long Island knows about Jones Beach and cares about it. People upstate don't understand the affection that Long Islanders have for what Jones Beach represents."
Phil Healy of Save Jones Beach, an environmental advocacy group, said of the proposed cuts, "This is an outrage."
John Kowalchyk, deputy regional director of the Long Island state parks region, said the reductions at Jones Beach are expected to save $480,000, and emphasized that cuts were made to facilities that are less used.
Comments about this story? SBrinton@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 203.
