By Shawn Magrath

Sun Staff Writer

smagrath@evesun.com

PRESTON – The expansion of Bowman Lake State Park in the Towns of Preston and McDonough has town leaders working to minimize the effect they say it will inevitably have on local taxpayers.

Preston Supervisor Peter Flanagan and McDonough Supervisor Arrington Canor have been in contact with the NYS Parks and Recreation Department to evaluate what Bowman’s expansion means for town residents. Though a lot of state-owned land in Chenango County is partially taxable, park land, including Bowman, is tax exempt.

Flanagan says despite the state’s claim that expansion and upgrades will bring more visitors and revenue into the area, it may not outweigh the extra tax burden it creates.

Preston is now negotiating a road maintenance agreement with NYS Parks to keep up Bliven-Sherman Road, a town road that runs approximately four miles through the towns of McDonough and Preston that, with the park’s expansion, is essentially an entrance to the park.