MASSENA — The national financial crisis could force the nature center at Robert Moses State Park to reinvent itself — without the live exhibits that enthrall young visitors.
The state has cut its park budget, forcing the center to let one of its seasonal employees go a month early. It probably will lose a year-round employee if it cannot find a way to pay her through fundraising by Friends of the Nature Center.
The staff reductions would leave only two employees to run the center, which is open seven days a week. Running it with two people, with its educational programs, animal care and other exhibits, is not possible.
"There's a lot to run with not a lot of people," said Mary A. Danboise, assistant director of recreation at the park.
"I hope it's not likely at all because it would change everything that we are," Mrs. Danboise said. "Anybody will tell you that live animals are the number one hit. It would be a disaster in my eyes."
The nature center is home to a blue and gold macaw, a ferret, a guinea pig and an iguana, as well as aquariums of fish and turtles.
The center runs various educational programs, including hosting summer programs and school field trips. It takes its exhibits, including the animals, to schools or other organizations. If the center loses its animals, staff would have to reinvent all of its programs, which schools already are beginning to book for the spring.
"We have to schedule things way in advance and it's scary when you don't know what you're going to have," Mrs. Danboise said. "We can't offer something we've been known for offering or that people come to enjoy."
Gov. David A. Paterson last spring announced an additional $100 million to go toward updating state park facilities, the largest investment in them in state history, according to the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
But then the economy took a turn for the worse and the governor was forced to ask for budget cuts across the state, including its parks.
The park, which includes a marina, a campground, a beach and trails, made the cuts. This winter, it will have nine or 10 employees to split between the park and Coles Creek State Park in Waddington.
"This winter is going to be real thin," park Manager Melvin W. Fitchette said. "We're going to do the best we can, but there may have to be some cuts."
Decisions will have to be made if the economy does not turn around before the spring, about which services to cut, reduce or open later in the season, closer to peak time.
Despite the economic mess, the news is not all bad for the park and its nature center. Construction is slated to begin in the spring on a new nature center facility, most of which will be funded through grants.
Park staff hope the economy will rebound before they have to begin cutting further.
"The final solution, I really don't know. But it's going to (depend) on the rebound from Wall Street and the state's finances," Mr. Fitchette said. "To run this place is going to be pretty thin. It's been thin."