Group expresses concern over parks

EAST AURORA, N.Y. (WIVB) - A group of concerned neighbors had time and energy on their hands.

They planned to spend part of Saturday at Knox Farm State Park helping with maintenance.

Denied because the park is closing, they took a message to the people.

In East Aurora, state park volunteers and other members of the community are trying desperately to save the park.

Organizer, Kateri Ewing expressed, "A lot of our history is here as a village, too. This place has cultural history and tremendous beauty."

However, New York state's economic reality, a budget more than a week late, as negotiations drag on TO, close the projected $9 billion gap.

For now, that problem is too much to overcome for the Save Knox Farm group.

State Senator, Dale Volker stated, "The Budget Bureau has ordered the gradual shutdown of state parks, supposedly to put pressure on the Legislature."

Volker, who represents the community where Knox Farm is located, told News 4 the problem is with his colleagues in New York City.

The group holding signs on Saturday planned to help maintain the park.

"If there is anything that I will guarantee is that Knox State Farm will stay open," Volker declared.

Others rallying say it makes no sense to start closing state parks. In this economy the price, free, is right for families.

Susan Collins of East Aurora expressed, "A lot of people come to parks because they can't afford amusement parks. They can't afford a lot of the activities if they have a lot of children. And they would come and have picnics, and they'd visit with the sheep. The children would visit with the chickens and we would bring the horses out for them to pet."

"We've had a lot of support for this. The community has been great. We have a Facebook group that has 5,200 members," Kateri Ewing remarked.

Protestors said that if the state closes parks now, it could cost more money in the long run. That's because without maintenance, there will be more work to be done.

Meanwhile, there's no word on when the state budget will be finalized.