Closure of NYS Parks

Much is being written about the New York State Administration seeking to close state parks including up to 10 on Long Island. Although PARCnassau concerns itself primarily with county parks, we will weigh in on this foolishness. A park or a park system is not nor should they ever be a political football. They are too important to the health and well being of our citizenry especially in bad economic times such as these.
Parks in reality and despite the rhetoric of our political establishment do not close. What is done is to bar the lawful citizens and patrons of the park or parks from access and recreational use. The miscreants, homeless, feral youth, drug users and other undesirables have no problem walking past the “closed” signs or leaping over a fence to engage in anti-social conduct out of sight of public and police. This turns a community asset into a community liability.
Once a park is destroyed by vandalism or worse, it costs more to restore it than to maintain it all along. What usually happens is the park is lost when government will not invest in it's continuance. The ultimate loser is the taxpaying citizen that counts on the park systems for their recreational needs and community enhancement.
So, New York State, leave the park system alone. Save taxpayer money by eliminating undeserved political appointments, pork barrel funding and other institutional misconduct that pass as “normal business in Albany”.