SHERBURNE – Friends of Rogers, a non-profit volunteer organization, has relayed more information from the state Department of Environmental Conservation regarding the scheduled Dec. 31 closure of Rogers Center.
According to the group’s vice president and spokeswoman Sharon Pelosi, the DEC has indicated it will close the Rogers Center’s Visitors Center, Bird Cabin and public restrooms by the end of the year.
Pelosi also reported the DEC intends to keep the site’s grounds open to the public, including its six miles of hiking trails, but added that the state will no longer conduct any routine maintenance at the location.
“The grounds and trails on property will remain open for public use; however, DEC will not conduct regular trail maintenance or snow removal. Without access to restrooms and assistance with snow removal, the Friends’ popular annual Winter Living Celebration, which had been scheduled to take place on Jan. 8, appears uncertain,” the non-profit group reported in a written statement Sunday.
“This event draws hundreds of families every year for horse drawn sleigh rides, snow shoeing and winter fun. It will be such a shame to lose this community event,” said Laurie Trotta, president of Friends of Rogers.
Rogers Director Marsha Guzewich confirmed five full-time employees, including her own position, were being eliminated by the end of the year. Guzewich said the center, which has been operating wildlife and nature educational programs since 1968, will close by Dec. 31 and that all programming sponsored by the center beyond that date has been canceled.
On Nov. 18, DEC officials confirmed Rogers and Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center in Dutchess County would be among those to close as the governor’s office attempts to save $250 million by laying off nearly 900 state workers by the end of the year.
Governor David Paterson said 898 state employees across a number of state agencies would be affected, including about 150 from the DEC.
The Friends of Rogers and several other organizations have begun lobbying efforts to restore funding at the site and prevent the center’s closure.
“At a time when there is such a pressing need to encourage children to enjoy active outdoor recreation, so many threats to our environment, and so much emphasis on developing green technologies, it is more critical than ever that the Rogers Center continue its mission of teaching youth and adults about the environment,” said Trotta.
The Friends of Rogers is asking concerned residents to contact their state representatives to express their support for the site.
The group has offered examples of letters and contact information for state officials at a new website, google.com/site/friendsofrogerscenter.
According to the Friend of Rogers, the center has “served the Central New York community for over 30 years, offering educational programming, wildlife viewing and observation at its Visitor Center, six miles of hiking trails and picnic and pavilion facilities, and numerous weekend and evening public programs.”
The property was originally dedicated for public use in 1909 by Harry and Gertrude Rogers and became Roger’s Game Farm, the first in New York State. In 1966, following an effort by the Sherburne Rotary Club supported by the National Audubon Society, the property became an environmental education center, and in 1972 was renamed to its current Rogers Environmental Education Center.
Friends of Rogers Environmental Education Center describes itself as “a not-for-profit corporation composed of dedicated supporters of the Rogers Environmental Education Center. Friends of Rogers supports programming at the Center, funds many public events each year, operates a small book store at the Visitor’s Center, and funds several interns who work at the Center.”
Friends of Rogers may be reached by e-mail at for13460@gmail.com.