Oswegatchie Wants Options On Eel Weir State Park Closing

By JIMMY LAWTON

Oswegatchie officials are asking the New York State Parks Commissioner to explore other options before simply closing St. Lawrence County's oldest state park.

Town Supervisor Alfred "Bud" Nichols and the board said they want to know what happens if and when Eel Weir Park closes.

"I'd love to see what we could do with it. I'd like to know what the costs would be to maintain it. And what the state plans on doing when they close it," he said.

"I would hate to see the thing close and go to wreck and ruin."

The board said it would like to know if the state plans to maintain the park and if it intends to leave it open for daytime use.

While officials agreed that they aren't likely to sway the state's opinion on the park's closure, they agreed to send a letter to state officials asking the parks commissioner to explore other options.

"The state is broke. We probably won't change their mind on closing it, but I would like to see the park at least leased to a private party," town councilor Kenneth W. Wilson said.

The board members briefly discussed possibilities such as the state leasing or selling the land to a private owner or a possible purchase of the property by the town which could in turn lease the property, but said they needed questions answered before anything of the sort could come to fruition.

"There are a lot of options but we don't know where to start," Mr. Nichols said.

Councilor Fred Perrin said he would like to sit down with officials and find out more detailed plans.

"I'd be happy to meet with state officials and explore our options. I'd welcome and opportunity to sit down and talk to them and find out what will happen if (the park) closes," he said.

Oswegatchie Town Clerk Janet Wheater said www.reservations.com has already stopped taking reservations for the park, which is scheduled to close, according to the state budget.

son's proposed budget.

According to a spokesperson for New York State Parks Recreation and Historic Preservation, Eel Weir State Park costs the state approximately $39,000 to operate.

The board will discuss further possibilities regarding the park at the next board meeting April 12 at 7 p.m. at the Oswegatchie Town Hall.