Shutdown Stifles Tourism on LI

John Mitty Sunday, October 6, 2013

The federal shutdown has not only resulted in thousands of Long Island employees going without work or pay, but also in a number of park closures.  Parks which have been closed because of the shutdown include the Sagamore Hill National Historic Site and the Fire Island National Seashore, including the Fire Island Lighthouse.  Many tourists have missed the initial signs, only to hike clear up to the lighthouse or to Theodore Roosevelt’s historic house at Oyster Bay only to find “closed” signs on the doors.  Since the Fire island National Seashore runs the Elizabeth Morton National Wildlife Refuge in Noyac and the Historic William Floyd Estate Grounds in Mastic, those sites are closed as well. 

Nobody knows at this point how long the shutdown will last, or when these parks will be open again to visitors.  Tourists visiting Long Island to see the historic sites have been forced to find other plans over the past week, as have many LI residents going on walks or looking for other leisure activities to fill the weekend hours.  Many residents expect that their routines will need to be altered for weeks or even longer.  Only after the budget issues are resolved will the parks be able to operate again.

 

jmitty@longislandyellowpages.com

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