For Immediate Release
March 3, 2010
The State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic
Preservation recently released a list of State Parks closures. Among the proposed park closures are Camp
Beechwood and Chimney Bluffs State Parks, both located in Wayne County. James D. Hoffman, Chairman of the Wayne
County Board of Supervisors, questioned why the County’s only two State parks
must close when other counties with several state parks are minimally impacted.
This decision results in a
disproportionately large impact to Wayne County.
Chimney Bluffs State Park, located in the Town of Huron, offers
4 miles of hiking trails and picnicking along the Lake Ontario shoreline. Chimney Bluffs are some of the most picturesque
natural features found anywhere on the Lake Ontario shoreline, routinely
attracting amateur and professional photographers from across the state and the
nation.
Chimney Bluffs is on the cover of the Wayne County Travel
guide. It is one of the region’s most important tourist attractions. With very little maintenance required to
maintain trails and some restrooms, Chimney Bluffs State Park surely generates
more revenue than it costs to operate.
Supervisors question why $600,000 of State Clean Water/Clean
Air Bond Act funds were used to purchase Camp Beechwood in 1999 when just over
10 years later the State wants to throw away its investment. Camp Beechwood is located on the shores of
Lake Ontario and consists of 123 acres and nearly 2700 feet of shoreline. The property is home to five distinct
ecosystems and an abundance of wildlife. Trails bisect the property and although never
formally opened, the property is still quite popular with hikers, nature
photographers and cross country skiers.
Hoffman stated this is also a quality of life issue. Because families are cutting back on
expensive vacations, State Parks offer an affordable recreation choice. Further, Camp Beechwood and Chimney Bluffs
State Parks provide a positive return on investment for the local and regional
economy. The Board of Supervisors strongly
opposes their closure and urges the state to reevaluate its decision to insure
that all counties are impacted equally.