Petition to stop the closing of Knox Farm State Park

Our beautiful Western New York treasure, Knox Farm State Park, is one of the state parks slated to close under Governor Paterson's proposal.
 
Knox Farm is a beautiful 633 acre state park located just outside East Aurora, New York. The park is an oasis of green space set among homes, businesses and busy roads and is convenient for so many to enjoy, either quickly on a lunch break or as a destination for family and personal health and recreation.
 
The former Ess Kay Farm is comprised of a variety of natural habitats, including meadows, woodlands, ponds and wetland areas. The park's 400 acres of grasslands and pastures support plant and animal species that are dependent on these unique habitats for survival. The acquisition of Ess Kay Farm by New York State represented an opportunity to preserve these grasslands, an important habitat that is disappearing throughout the Northeast.

Knox Farm State Park has been home to many family gatherings, picnics, wedding proposals, first dates, nature hikes, artist gatherings, geocaches, community events, and was even the temporary home of "The Moving Wall" Vietnam Veterans' Memorial in 2009. Knox Farm will always hold a special place in the hearts of those who have even visited just once, and especially to those who frequent the park regularly.

Governor Paterson's newest budget proposal would strip funding from this park as well as 40 others around the state while at the same time creating "exceptions" to the funding cuts and choosing those that will stay open behind closed doors and based on politics and other criteria. We understand the need to cut funding and balance our enormous financial deficit, and yet why does it always seem to come at the expense of the hard-working tax payers of our state? Our parks are one of our greatest assets to be enjoyed by all. Why take away something so important and necessary to so many?

On Feb. 11, the day after making the announcement regarding the closure of state parks, Governor Paterson announced nearly $7 million to be awarded through "health and wellness" projects which include helping to curb tobacco use and fighting obesity to be carried out through media campaigns and awareness programs. Additionally, Governor Paterson previously announced a program that will hand out approximately $16.8 million in tax credits to those who purchase new appliances with the "energy star" logo on them. It seems such a waste compared to to the health and wellness benefits that our parks provide, not to mention the fact that as so many of us are financially strapped these days, our parks provide an affordable %u201Cstaycation%u201D option for families.

The above are examples of how the the State of NY is neglecting the wants of its residents concerning the closing of Knox Farm State Park and other parks and historical sites, and how spending money on seemingly wasteful projects are a contributing cause of the parks' closure.

Closing parks will hit surrounding communities hard. Parks are economic engines that generate $1.9 billion and 20,000 jobs annually (not including park staff). These jobs are long term, sustainable jobs that will last as long as we protect and maintain state parks. Many of our local businesses in East Aurora would be affected by the closing of Knox Farm State. Please don%u2019t let that happen.

It is because of the above statements that those who have signed below formally petition Governor Paterson and all of our elected officials to rethink their decision to close Knox Farm State Park. We ask you to do what is not only right, but necessary to maintaining a facility that has promoted family values, provided a safe environment for recreational activity, and has been the home of too many "firsts" to list for the residents of Western New York. Its beauty is a testament to New York's stunning views and its history extends far beyond any temporary budget shortfalls that would cause its deterioration. Closing Knox Farm State Park would be destroying an important piece of the fabric that has made and continues to make Western New York the special place it is today.

We ask you all to make the necessary adjustments to extend the life of this glorious preserve so that we may pass down to our children and grandchildren the same memories that we all at one time or another had the opportunity to create, and allow them to keep the tradition of Knox Farm State Park alive for generations to come.

The benefits State Parks provide New York far outweigh their cost. State Parks make up a mere one-quarter of one percent of the total state budget. For every dollar spent on parks by the state, our state's economy enjoys a five dollar return. We have a community group of over 3000 members willing to do our part. Please do your part by not closing our park. We can find a way to work together to keep our park open for all.

We thank you, so sincerely, for hearing our grievance and hope that you will make the right decision regarding this timeless park.

To view our community group%u2019s Facebook page, where you can see our correspondence and all of our 3,100 names, please visit:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/East-Aurora-NY/Friends-of-Knox-Farm-State-Park/12247533755?ref=mf#!/group.php?gid=318303776363&ref=ts

We also have a Web site:  www.saveknoxfarm.com
Our beautiful Western New York treasure, Knox Farm State Park, is one of the state parks slated to close under Governor Paterson's proposal.
 
Knox Farm is a beautiful 633 acre state park located just outside East Aurora, New York. The park is an oasis of green space set among homes, businesses and busy roads and is convenient for so many to enjoy, either quickly on a lunch break or as a destination for family and personal health and recreation.
 
The former Ess Kay Farm is comprised of a variety of natural habitats, including meadows, woodlands, ponds and wetland areas. The park's 400 acres of grasslands and pastures support plant and animal species that are dependent on these unique habitats for survival. The acquisition of Ess Kay Farm by New York State represented an opportunity to preserve these grasslands, an important habitat that is disappearing throughout the Northeast.

Knox Farm State Park has been home to many family gatherings, picnics, wedding proposals, first dates, nature hikes, artist gatherings, geocaches, community events, and was even the temporary home of "The Moving Wall" Vietnam Veterans' Memorial in 2009. Knox Farm will always hold a special place in the hearts of those who have even visited just once, and especially to those who frequent the park regularly.

Governor Paterson's newest budget proposal would strip funding from this park as well as 40 others around the state while at the same time creating "exceptions" to the funding cuts and choosing those that will stay open behind closed doors and based on politics and other criteria. We understand the need to cut funding and balance our enormous financial deficit, and yet why does it always seem to come at the expense of the hard-working tax payers of our state? Our parks are one of our greatest assets to be enjoyed by all. Why take away something so important and necessary to so many?

On Feb. 11, the day after making the announcement regarding the closure of state parks, Governor Paterson announced nearly $7 million to be awarded through "health and wellness" projects which include helping to curb tobacco use and fighting obesity to be carried out through media campaigns and awareness programs. Additionally, Governor Paterson previously announced a program that will hand out approximately $16.8 million in tax credits to those who purchase new appliances with the "energy star" logo on them. It seems such a waste compared to to the health and wellness benefits that our parks provide, not to mention the fact that as so many of us are financially strapped these days, our parks provide an affordable %u201Cstaycation%u201D option for families.

The above are examples of how the the State of NY is neglecting the wants of its residents concerning the closing of Knox Farm State Park and other parks and historical sites, and how spending money on seemingly wasteful projects are a contributing cause of the parks' closure.

Closing parks will hit surrounding communities hard. Parks are economic engines that generate $1.9 billion and 20,000 jobs annually (not including park staff). These jobs are long term, sustainable jobs that will last as long as we protect and maintain state parks. Many of our local businesses in East Aurora would be affected by the closing of Knox Farm State. Please don%u2019t let that happen.

It is because of the above statements that those who have signed below formally petition Governor Paterson and all of our elected officials to rethink their decision to close Knox Farm State Park. We ask you to do what is not only right, but necessary to maintaining a facility that has promoted family values, provided a safe environment for recreational activity, and has been the home of too many "firsts" to list for the residents of Western New York. Its beauty is a testament to New York's stunning views and its history extends far beyond any temporary budget shortfalls that would cause its deterioration. Closing Knox Farm State Park would be destroying an important piece of the fabric that has made and continues to make Western New York the special place it is today.

We ask you all to make the necessary adjustments to extend the life of this glorious preserve so that we may pass down to our children and grandchildren the same memories that we all at one time or another had the opportunity to create, and allow them to keep the tradition of Knox Farm State Park alive for generations to come.

The benefits State Parks provide New York far outweigh their cost. State Parks make up a mere one-quarter of one percent of the total state budget. For every dollar spent on parks by the state, our state's economy enjoys a five dollar return. We have a community group of over 3000 members willing to do our part. Please do your part by not closing our park. We can find a way to work together to keep our park open for all.

We thank you, so sincerely, for hearing our grievance and hope that you will make the right decision regarding this timeless park.

To view our community group%u2019s Facebook page, where you can see our correspondence and all of our 3,100 names, please visit:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/East-Aurora-NY/Friends-of-Knox-Farm-State-Park/12247533755?ref=mf#!/group.php?gid=318303776363&ref=ts

We also have a Web site:  www.saveknoxfarm.com
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