Politics on the Hudson

That’s the message from the state Parks Department today after the state parks had more than 1.7 million visitors over Memorial Day weekend, a 17 percent increase over last year.

The increase came after lawmakers and Gov. David Paterson reached a last-minute deal to reopen the parks last Friday after Paterson had withheld money for the parks because of the late state budget.

“The strong holiday attendance is proof that New Yorkers love their state parks,” said Carol Ash, parks commissioner. “I’m happy that the citizens across the state who have been expressing their support for state parks are getting out and enjoying them. All of our magnificent parks are open, and I encourage all New Yorkers to fully enjoy all that our state parks have to offer. From swimming to hiking to camping, our parks and historic sites offer something for everyone.”

Attendance totaled 1,705,977 visitors, an increase of 245,296 visitors from last year. Moreover, an average of 91 percent of the park system’s campsites and cabins were occupied over the weekend, up from 88 percent during the 2009 Memorial Day weekend.