Washington's Crossing Park Struggles With Money Woes

by KYW's Karin Phillips

Washington Crossing Historic Park is being closed as of 5pm Friday night -- with hope for a quick reopening -- as organizers work to keep the annual Christmas Day reënactment alive.

After a morning meeting on Friday, Pa. state officials decided to close Washington Crossing Historic Park, at least for the weekend, because of state budget cuts (see previous story). Bucks County Conference and Visitors Bureau is working to keep it open.

Bureau vice president Bill Haas says visitors can stroll through the park over the weekend, but that's all:

"They will not be permitted to enter any of the historic buildings on the park property, and there's no interpretive staff to give the tours that normally went in and out of all of the buildings."

Haas says organizers will be working to reopen the park as soon as next week. 

But the major concentration of their efforts will be on the Christmas Day reënactment of George Washington and his troops crossing the Delaware, which Haas says will go on.   

A web site was being set up this weekend -- friendsofwashingtoncrossing.com -- for donations and volunteers.

(File photos)