The John Jay Homestead Historic Site in Katonah is in danger of shutting down, state and local officials say, but grassroots efforts to save the site are already underway.

Assemblyman Robert Castelli has organized a rally to marshal support for keeping the historic site open, to take place Friday at 11:00 a.m. at the Homestead on Route 22. 

Castelli hopes that Friday's rally will result in a coalition of residents and local conservation and historic preservation organizations that will work together to ward off the shut-down. 

Gov. David Paterson's proposed state budget calls for a $29 million reduction in parks spending, according to New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Deputy Public Information Officer Dan Keefe. "Forty-one parks and 14 historic sites will close to save $6 million under the current plan," he said.

A Feb. 19 memo details several local institutions slated for closure, including Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site in Yonkers and Donald Trump State Park in Yorktown.

The Homestead is not on that list. A plan calls for John Jay to remain open by shifting $5 million from the Environmental Protection Fund—traditionally used for environmental clean up projects and land acquisitions—to rescue park operations. John Jay would receive about $130,000 from the EPF.

But the power of approval lies with the state legislature, scheduled to vote on the budget April 1 and it's far from a sure thing.

"The recommendation from the governor for the use of EPF funds is unprecedented," said Wendy Ross, Executive Director of The Friends of John Jay. "If we don't receive the funds, we may have to close."

John Jay Homestead opened in 1958, and for the last 30 years has operated through a public-private partnership between the OPRHP and the nonprofit organization, Friends of John Jay.  

The OPRHP annually provides funds for site operations and maintenance, while the Friends of John Jay spend approximately $500,000 per year on education programming, special events and restoration projects. 

Neither the OPHRP or Friends of John Jay would specify the amount of state aid given to the historic site in the past.

The Homestead relies on private donations, membership fees from 400 "Friends of John Jay" and fees from educational programs for its special events and restoration projects. Fundraising efforts would have to double to remain open, said Ross.

The 62-acre property and former home to John Jay, New York's second governor and first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, has been a state historic site since the 1958 opening.

Thousands of families travel from Westchester and Fairfield Counties to attend events at the site such as the annual Country Fair and Barn Dance, Fourth of July celebration and school field trips and summer history camp. 

Amy Demis, mother of KES fifth grade students Ryan and Samantha, said it would be a real loss to the Bedford community if the site closed. "My children attended John Jay's history camp last summer and want to do it again," she said.  "It was unique, engaging and adventurous—totally different from anything else around here." 

For more information on the rally, call Assemblyman Castelli's office at (914) 686-7335 or the Friends of John Jay at (914) 232-8119.