Albany, NY – A deal has been struck to reopen 55 state parks and historic sites in time for the busy Memorial Day weekend, according to leaders in the State Legislature.
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“The parks will be open,” Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said shortly after arriving at the Democratic Party’s statewide nominating convention here this morning.
Silver said he expected legislation to be approved today or Thursday in Albany to get the parks open.
Gov. David A. Paterson’s administration did not confirm the agreement.
“We are continuing to talk. If the Legislature is prepared to make real spending cuts, we may have a deal — but nothing now,” an administration source speaking on the condition of anonymity said.
Negotiators worked into the night in both Albany and at the Democratic convention here that has become a gathering place for some lawmakers and top staff.
Silver declined to provide any details, but said it would not be the same plan that lawmakers rejected earlier this week by Paterson that would have meant a sizable cut to the state’s Environmental Protection Fund.
Austin Shafran, a spokesman for Senate Democratic Conference Leader John Sampson, says they have a “tentative agreement that will keep the parks open this weekend and for the remainder of the year.”
The affected parks closed last week when Paterson made good on his threat to shut down the 41 parks and 14 historic sites to save $6 million in funding. He has been using the parks issue as a negotiating tool to try to move the Legislature to embrace the larger issue: the unresolved 2010 state budget, which was due March 31, and faces a $9.2 billion deficit.