There they were, more than 700 people, many waving signs and all of them out to protest a state proposal to shut parks on Long Island and upstate to help reduce New York’s billion-dollar deficit.

Tom Donovan liked what he saw.

Donovan and more than 40 members of the Jones Beach Lifeguard Corps took part in the Feb. 27 rally, staged at Heckscher State Park in East Islip. Lifeguards marched with signs that said “Overcrowded beaches = recipe for disaster” and “Beach safety is a priority” as they joined in chants such as “Save our parks!”

Members of the Jones Beach Lifeguard Corps are part of the New York State Lifeguard Corps, which is affiliated with UUP.

Organized by Suffolk County Legislator Wayne Horsley, the rally also included area fishermen, horse riding groups, runners, kayakers, bird watchers, surfers and other park users who want the state parks kept open to use and enjoy.

“We’re trying to do our part and I’m very glad that others are stepping up,” said Donovan, first vice president of the New York State Lifeguard Corps. “Our state parks are not a privilege, they’re a right. They’ve been bought and paid for. What we’re talking about here is staffing and maintenance (costs).”

State parks officials have recommended closing 41 parks and 14 historic sites statewide this summer, and reducing service at 23 other parks to help close the state’s $8.2 billion budget gap. Six Long Island parks, including Orient Beach State Park, are slated to be shuttered, as are swimming pools on Jones Beach and other nearby state parks.

Those closures will impact Jones Beach union members; Donovan said as many as 10 percent of the Jones Beach Lifeguard Corps’ 440 members could be cut if the state moves ahead with its plans. Last year, 10 percent of union jobs were lost due to state reductions.

Donovan said that safety at the parks could become an issue if lifeguarding positions are further reduced, he said. “We understand the state has financial issues, but you can’t put a price on safety. Closing facilities will cause overcrowding at the facilities that remain open. That’s where safety can be compromised.”

Closing parks to save money makes no sense simply because so few dollars will be saved. User fees returned nearly $30 million of the $45 million the state spent on parks last year. Closing parks means that user fees from the closed parks will also be lost, he said.

“I think our parks are ours, they shouldn’t be used to make money,” said Donovan. “They’re a respite from a crazy world.”

— Michael Lisi