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Sen. Valesky Helps to Keep Parks and Historical Sites Open

By Dave Bollard

Oswego, NY – Parks advocates are telling the governor and lawmakers to look elsewhere for budget savings.

Protesters rallied in Albany yesterday to save state parks and historical sites, including several in Central N.Y.

Syracuse area state Sen. Dave Valesky spoke at the rally. He said this office has been getting a lot of mail and phone calls from people who do not want the parks and sites to close.

"New Yorkers know that our state parks are, in a very real sense, the jewels of New York State and that our state historic sites are in fact our very heritage."

Valesky said he will do what he can within the legislative process and work with private partners to keep the parks open.

The governor is proposing to close several parks and historic sites as a means to close the state's $8 billion budget gap.

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