Printable View
NYCAviation:
Quote:
:arrow: Bayswater Point State Park, Popular Kennedy Airport Planespotting Location, to Close April 1st
Bayswater Point State Park, popular with planespotters for its prime views of JFK International Airport is slated to become a victim of massive budget cuts when the new fiscal year begins April 1st. [Full Article]
That's bad news. :(
RATS! No seriously... there are tons of them there. But that is besides the point. This is a major bummer. In the spring time and certainly the early days of summer this is my favorite spotting location bar none. Best view and most relaxing. I hope they decide to keep it open without MX. Anyone intrested in buying a lawn mower!?
Very disappointing news and like Ryan said, I hope they keep it open. It's a great spot in the Spring/Fall even in the winter though its really cold.
Boooo...sucks!!! I love Bayswater - have been there on every trip to NY! I hope they keep it open but not maintained!
My favorite place.... Maybe its a good chance for spotters form NY ?? to talk to someone about taking care of this place ?? and make a Bayswater Spotting Park ?? some cleaning, time to time and anything else about "taking care" of the place.... Some donation program on the website, I know Phil and crew can do a lot in NY :) just don't take me wrong I know you guys have much more important thing to do... Im just giving little Ideas....
I hope even if they will close Bayswater we will be able to use this place.... I love Bayswater.....
This sucks. I have fond memories of a ever-so-slightly brisk May morning there with Andy and Mark lol! This is a huge loss for all of us for sure.
I know Andy and I well never forget it either! Of course, knowing you are Canadian explains that morning a whole lot more Eh :lol:Quote:
Originally Posted by wunaladreamin
This blows! Losing a spot like that hurts a bunch. But we are a determined group, I'm sure someone will find a replacement spot.
I can't imagine the spot being completely shuttered....maybe just not maintained....even though it wasn't very maintained to begin with.
We will have to wait and see. That's a pretty vital spotting location for us.
lol shane you would...
This is bummer! im not happy to hear about this... Bayswater was one of my favorate places to be at.. I hope it doesnt close, Im praying for that
Bayswater is maintained now? Wow I couldn't tell...Quote:
but not maintained
You don't close parks to save money, the idea of a public park isn't to make money but to better society. NYS Gov't is a total disgrace....
That guy who drives around on the tractor once in awhile probably makes $200K. :cry:Quote:
Originally Posted by T-Bird76
The state does not own many parks within the city, but the mayor has previously offered to take over other state parks, i.e. Fulton Ferry State Park in Brooklyn. Maybe they could do it with Bayswater.
Probably 90% of the maintenance cost is opening and closing the gate every day. Other than that, the park doesn't have any bathrooms or anything to maintain, only a couple of trash cans to empty. Trim the grass once a week (there isn't all that much of it) and pick up some trash.
I'm going to look up some folks to contact and see what we can do.
Some new facts about the closures, which would affect over 50 facilities across the state. What a joke:
— Would save only $6.3 million overall, about 7/10ths of 1 percent of the state's $8.2 billion budget gap.
— Would likely reduce tourism tax revenue by more than that.
— Just a half hour after the parks news, state officials announced $7.7 million in taxpayer-funded grants to help private developers and companies renovate buildings, buy equipment and build apartments.
I'm going to play Mr. Conspiracy Theory and say that spotters are probably a main reason for the closure under the guise of budget cuts. I don't think the City taking over would help any either. Oh well. There's always the Inwood Country Club. Can anyone loan me $8,000.00?
How does your theory fit into the reports that they are looking at multiple park closures, most of which have no connection to spotting? I really doubt this has anything to do with spotting activity.Quote:
Originally Posted by Idlewild
Rats. I was looking foward to spotting from there during the summer when I had my range finally
I said a main reason. Not the reason. You can't deny that NY/NJPA would love to see Bayswater off-limits. They already succeeded in making a perimeter around the airport off limits to boats. And this is supposedly in a public waterway. What other parks are being closed? Are they also in the City, or upstate and/or LI?Quote:
Originally Posted by moose135
I bet you Al Roker is behind this. Someone get on the line with Ann Curry, and tell her that her favorite spotting area is being closed! :)
I can't see why this can be one of the parks that is just left open and not maintained though that grass will get high and the spotter tick will leave the mounds to go there.
Anyone intrested in pooling funds for a lawnmower to keep a track open? Might have room someplace in the office on Burnside someplace to store it! :borat: :lol:
How close (or far off) can one be on a boat to the airport boundary?Quote:
Originally Posted by Idlewild
The irony is, while they go this far to make it harder to watch planes closely, the Islamo-crazies are still running around free (like the Muslim guy they finally arrested the other day involved in trying to bomb the subway). The places where these guys are indoctrinated REMAIN OPEN, parks are closed, and something as simple as watching planes has become a hassle nowadays.
I know what you mean. Well the only thing we can do is try to talk to these ppl and convince them to leave it open. Maby telling them we can partally maintain it might convince them :borat:
I said a main reason. Not the reason. You can't deny that NY/NJPA would love to see Bayswater off-limits.Quote:
Originally Posted by Idlewild
More for Homeland Security reasons I would believe than Spotting actvities.
Well we cant let them now can we?Quote:
Originally Posted by Gerard
Imagine a boat full of spotters. Wonder how long that'd last :lol: Wonder if it was even possible to watch aircraft or get pictures from a boat there before 9/11
These guys lasted for a while that morning!
http://images3.jetphotos.net/img/1/2...1219800802.jpg
Wow! what a shot bro!
Yea those boaters seem pretty close to the action, very surprised to see that. But I don't see anyone with a lens :mrgreen:
Thanks Mario! Yeah, it seemed the heavier the bird, the less they cared lol.
wow... amazing shot Kenny !! If they will close Bayswater I can offer my boat u can pack 10 ppl on board and there is still lots of room for beer....
haha
Seriously, I can't imagine, back when I was at JFK how beautiful the Air Zimbabwe would have looked from a boat as it took off and banked off 13R..
If so many boaters "pretending" to be fishing are out there then who says one can't watch the planes.. and maybe get a pic or two? :)
Well we need to figure something out here. I like the boating idea though
Here's the list of closuresQuote:
Originally Posted by Idlewild
Central Region
* Chittenango Falls State Park (Madison)--Close Park
* Clark Reservation State Park (Onondaga)--Close Park
* Fort Ontario State Historic Site (Oswego)--Close Historic Site
* Helen McNitt State Park (Madison)--Close Park
* Herkimer Home Historic Site (Herkimer)--Close Historic Site
* Hunts Pond State Park (Chenango)--Close Park
* Oquaga Creek State Park (Broome)--Close Park
* Old Erie Canal State Park (Onondaga)--Close Park
* Oriskany Battlefield/Steuben SHS (Oneida)--Close Historic Site
* Pixley Falls State Park (Oneida)--Close Park
* Robert Riddell State Park (Delaware)--Close Park
* Selkirk Shores State Park (Oswego)--Close Public Swimming Beach
Finger Lakes Region
* Beechwood State Park (Wayne)--Close Park
* Bonavista State Park (Seneca)--Close Park
* Chimney Bluffs State Park (Wayne)--Close Park
* Newtown Battlefield State Park (Chemung)--Close Park
* Springbrook Greens State Park (Cayuga)--Close Park
* Two Rivers State Park (Tioga)--Close Park
* Buttermilk Falls State Park (Tompkins)--Close Public Swimming Area
* Seneca Lake State Park (Seneca)--Close Lake Swimming Beach
* Stony Brook State Park (Steuben)--Close Public Swimming Area
Thousand Islands Region
* Canoe Island State Park (Jefferson)--Close Park
* Cedar Island State Park (Jefferson)--Close Park
* Eel Weir State Park (St. Lawrence)--Close Park
* Keewaydin State Park (Jefferson)--Close Park
* Macomb Reservation State Park (Clinton)--Close Park
* Mary Island State Park (Jefferson)--Close Park
* Point Au Roche State Park (Clinton)--Close Park
* Sackets Harbor State Historic Site (Jefferson)--Close Historic Site
Long Island
* Brookhaven State Park (Suffolk)--Close Park
* Bethpage State Park (Suffolk)--Eliminate Winter Sports; Reduce picnic area and polo field
* Caleb Smith State Park Preserve (Suffolk)--Close Park
* Cold Spring Harbor State Park (Suffolk)--Close Park
* Connetquot River State Park (Suffolk)--Close Weekdays
* Heckscher State Park (Suffolk)--Close Swimming Pool
* Jones Beach State Park (Nassau)--Close West Swimming Pool; Eliminate July 4th fireworks
* Montauk Downs State Park (Suffolk)--Close Swimming Pool
* Nissequogue River State Park (Suffolk)--Close Park
* Orient Beach State Park (Suffolk)--Close Park
* Trail View State Park (Suffolk)--Close Park
New York City Region
* Bayswater Point State Park (Queens)--Close Park
* Riverbank State Park (New York)--Reduce Operating Hours; Close Outdoor Swimming Pool; Eliminate Seniors Classes, and Community/Cultural Events
Palisades Region
* Fort Montgomery Historic Site (Orange)--Close Historic Site
* Harriman SP– Anthony Wayne (Orange)--Close Park Area
* Harriman SP – Group Camps (Orange)--Reduce Maintenance
* High Tor State Park (Rockland)--Close Pool
* Knox Headquarters Historic Site (Orange)--Close Historic Site
* New Windsor Cantonment SHS (Orange)-- Close Historic Site
* Schunnemunk State Park (Orange)-- Close Park
* Stony Point State Historic Site (Orange)--Close Historic Site
* Tallman Mountain State Park (Rockland)--Close Pool
Taconic Region
* Donald J. Trump State Park (Westchester)--Close Park
* FDR (Roosevelt) State Park (Westchester)--Reduce Swimming Pool Season
* Hudson Highlands State Park (Putnam)--Close Arden Point Area
* James Baird State Park (Dutchess)--Reduce Golf Course Season
* Mills Norrie State Park (Dutchess)--Reduce Golf Course Season
* Olana State Historic Site (Columbia)--Close 2 Days per Week
* Philipse Manor Hall Historic Site (Westchester)--Close Historic Site
* Rockefeller State Park Preserve (Westchester)--Eliminate Interpretive Programs
* Taconic Outdoor Education Center (Putnam)--Eliminate Interpretive Programs
* Taconic State Park – Rudd Pond (Dutchess)--Close Rudd Pond Area
* Wonder Lake State Park (Putnam)--Close Park
Saratoga-Capital Region
* Bennington Battlefield State Historic Site (Rensselaer)--Close Historic Site
* Hudson River Islands State Park (Rensselaer)--Close Park
* John Boyd Thacher State Park (Albany)--Close Park
* John Brown Farm Historic Site (Essex)--Close Historic Site
* Johnson Hall State Historic Site (Fulton)--Close Historic Site
* Max V. Shaul State Park (Schoharie)--Close Park
* Schodack Island State Park (Rensselaer)--Close Park
* Schoharie Crossing Historic Site (Montgomery)--Close Historic Site
* Schuyler Mansion Historic Site (Albany)--Close Historic Site
Genesee Region
* Hamlin Beach State Park (Monroe)--Close Swimming Beach 3 Days per Week
* Oak Orchard State Marine Park (Orleans)--Close Park
* Regionwide Multiple Eliminate Camper Recreation Program
Niagara Region
* Joseph Davis State Park (Niagara)--Close Park
* Knox Farm State Park (Erie)--Close Park
* Niagara Falls State Park (Niagara)-- Reduce Interpretive Programs
* Wilson-Tuscarora State Park (Niagara)--Close Park
* Woodlawn Beach State Park (Erie)-- Close Park
Allegany Region
* Allegany State Park (Cattaraugus)--Close Quaker Area Swim Beach; Close Quaker Cabins Area on December 1st; Eliminate Winter Trails Maintenance; Reduce Recreation Programs
* Long Point State Park (Chautauqua)--Close Park
Wow! A couple of other closures will piss me off! Bethpage closing the polo fields?!?! I have fond memories of going there with my grandmother and my cousins to watch the games over lunch. The coolest things were going onto the fields to replace the divets in between chuckers, and if a ball went out of play and you caught it, you kept it lol. And the Jones Beach fireworks display was just as cool as the Macy's getup in the city, with about 1/3 of the travel time. Bogus.
What a disgrace the above list is.... I can't believe they are nixing the Jones Beach Fireworks. Our State Gov't is a total failure, you don't close public parks and parks aren't supposed to turn a profit. Parks are there for the betterment of society and for people to escape to places of peace and tranquility.
No worries Tom. It will create cost of overtime to the cops who have to give tresspassing tickets out and arrest all the drug dealers and pimps pedding their product in those closed parks. :lol:
Sad thing that's true.... Watch crime go up in some of these areas.Quote:
Originally Posted by hiss srq