Efforts to keep threatened state parks open gaining ground

"Parks are the last inexpensive outdoor retreat that hard-working citizens have," said Edward Goodell, executive director of the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference. 

The Trail Conference ... is among many groups and individuals who have been lobbying to save the parks and historic sites since Gov. David Paterson proposed the cutbacks as part of a plan to close an $8.2 billion budget gap. And while it looks like lawmakers might be on the verge of a solution, no one seems ready to let up. . .

Correction to article: The article states that the Trail Conference claims 100,000 members. The correct number is 10,000.