Maybe there were too many hot, wet weekends last year. Or no U.S. Open Golf Tournament in Bethpage. Or the fact that there were no July 4 fireworks at Jones Beach for the first time in 15 years due to budget cuts.
But in any case, fewer people visited Long Island’s state parks in 2009, according to the state office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
While the attendance of East Enders to state parks dipped, visits to New York State Parks across the state increased by 1 million visits.
