NEW SCOTLAND –– Wednesday, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced a $350,000 grant is being awarded to the John Boyd Thacher State Park.

Thacher was one of five parks awarded a total of $6.8 million in funds as part of the New York State Works program, which the governor had called the centerpiece of the budget, rebuilding aging infrastructure.

“Anytime you receive funds outside the normal operating budget it’s significant. Any time you get capital improvement funds it’s a big deal,” said Thacher Park Manager Chris Fallon.

Fallon said the money would pay for the repaving of two parking lots and replace roofs on five of the nine pavilions at the park.

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation is in the process of conducting a year-long review of the park in order to create a first-ever master plan for the site.

The plan will eventually document the state’s goals in operating the parks and will involve a broad review of current practices, services, and facilities.

The plan includes public feedback and will chart the future development and operation of Thacher and Thompson’s Lake State Park. The agency is preparing to launch a public information campaign in late April about the plan, accompanied by an open house at Thompson’s Lake. In addition, more formal public hearings are planned for the month of May.

Fallon said the grant was not related to the master plan and he did not know why Thacher was awarded the grant or the amount, explaining the park did not have to apply for it.

The $350,000 grant comes more than two years after former Governor David Paterson attempted to close the park (along with 40 others across the state,) in February 2010, in order to save about $225,000. Public protest over the closure eventually led legislators to reverse the decision.

Other Capital Region parks are receiving significantly more funds: Peebles Island will get $3 million, Saratoga Spa will get $1.5 million, Moreau Lake will get $1.275 million, and Grafton Lake, will get $665,000.