Volunteers maintaining park kicked out

WILSON, N.Y. (RELEASE) - New York State Senator George Maziarz blasted the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation after state parks personnel told a slew of volunteers cleaning and maintaining the Wilson-Tuscarora State Park to leave this afternoon.

Under the direction of Wilson Supervisor Joe Jastrzemski, along with a half a dozen volunteers, descended upon the park armed with their own lawn mowers, weed whackers, leaf blowers, gardening equipment and a desire to work for the betterment of the community, only to be rebuffed. The state has failed to maintain Wilson-Tuscarora State Park since Gov. David Paterson announced that the park may be closed earlier this year.

"Here we have people who care about their community, recognize how important this park is and are spending their own time and resources to do what state parks is unwilling and unable to do," said Maziarz. "The grass in the picnic table area was as high as the tables themselves; it is outrageous that they were asked to leave."

Wilson Supervisor Joe Jastrzemski, who spearheaded the effort with Wilson Councilman Tom Thomspon and his brother Doug Thompson, was equally appalled.

"With the Memorial Day weekend right around the corner, our goal was to spend a few days preparing the park," said Jastrzemeski. "If the state does not want to maintain the park, fine. But they cant come in here after the fact and tell us we cant do the job just because they wont."

Wilson-Tuscarora State Park, a 395-acre park along Lake Ontario, is one of 41 parks and 14 historic sites slated for closure for the 2010 season.

"I understand the reality of the state budget situation," said Jastrzemeski. "But this park is a significant asset to our community. It is not only a tourist destination, its also an economic engine that is very important to the multitude of small businesses in the area."

Maziarz, who immediately upon Paterson's park closure announcement said that he would work with both the state and Jastrzemki to have the park turned over to the Town of Wilson, reiterated that position today.

"This park is too important to the community to allow it to fall by the wayside," said Maziarz. "State parks needs to remember that the word preservation is also part of their name and preserving this park for the people of this community is what we plan to do."