Today's Poll: Should New York invest $900 million in parks?

I think they should donate it to the Rick Hale fund.

yes == we have great parks and yet they are run down -- Hamlin would be nice with improvements. with all our shoreline we should be using it for tourism.

Charge more to get into these parks and the state won't have to use any taxpayer dollars.I did read that some of this investment will come from private funding sources which is good...

My initial response would be Yes, however after reading The Niagara Falls Reporter and what the state did to Niagara Falls Park, I have to say No. There is so much politics and nepotism involved. They installed some expensive stone walkways with rock that could only be found at some cronie's( a friend of the architect ) quarry in another part of the state. What they failed to realize is when this stone gets wet it becomes slippery to footing, so when it rains out they close the park. They spent millions to "enhance" Niagara Falls Park. Of course No One is held accountable for this major screw up.
If you ever feel poorly about how Batavia is being run, I suggest you read the N.F. Reporter, you may come away saying "we don't have it that bad after all".

Our state parks are a source of revenue, not a great source, but one none the less; and they should be well maintained as they are all apart of the I Love NY tourism campaign to draw tourists from other states.

NFN, but the last time any upgrades were made in LSP, was when the new pool on the north side of the park was completed, and opened, and that was back in the late 60's.

http://www.10best.com/awards/travel/best-state-park/

"NFN, but the last time any upgrades were made in LSP, was when the new pool on the north side of the park was completed, and opened, and that was back in the late 60's."

Speaking as one who is in the park several days a week from mid-April - late October and has been for the last 30+ years, that statement is demonstrably false.

Something that should be looked at with the viewpoint of the local residents of Orleans County being weighted heavily; is the sale of some of the property along the Lake Ontario Parkway. That could free up funds for the parks.
http://www.orleanshub.com/news/Open-up-Parkway-to-boost-tax-base-popula…

Driving to those parks on roads full of potholes, and across bridges with chunks of concrete falling out of them is no fun. When things with higher priorities are fixed and paid for, then we can splurge on parks. I like Mark Potwora's idea of charging a fee to get into the parks. Stop using taxpayer dollars to subsidize projects that can support themselves, and shouldn't exist if they can't, and we'll have plenty of money to pay for roads, bridges, salt, snow removal, and parks.