Half of the revenues accumulated over the last three years from wedding rentals at Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford would be swept into the state’s general fund to help close a $390 million gap in current state finances.

The $500,000 proposed to be taken from the $1 million in the Harkness wedding fund would be combined with revenues from rentals of picnic shelters and other facilities at other state parks, including $99,158 from rentals of the pavilion at Rocky Neck State Park in East Lyme, $8,341 from rentals at Fort Trumbull in New London and $43,701 from Gillette Castle State Park in East Haddam and Lyme.

The proposal, released by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy on Wednesday, completely empties the rental accounts of 17 state parks, leaving Harkness the only one with funds remaining. About 75 to 80 weddings per year take place at Harkness.

The proposal, which would add about $1.02 million to state coffers, would have to be approved by the state legislature in order to be enacted. To approve the transfer, lawmakers would have to undo a 2010 law that establishes dedicated maintenance, repair and improvement accounts at parks from rental revenues.

Parks advocates are crying foul over the plan, saying it is directly contrary to the intent of the 2010 law and will hurt parks and park users.

“The legislation was formulated specifically to guard against this type of raid,” Robert Dixon, president of the Friends of Harkness Memorial State Park group, wrote in an email to the group’s 600 members Wednesday.

He urged members to contact state legislators and the governor’s office to object to the plan.

“If we don’t keep up the mansion and other parts of the park, the wedding business will suffer long-term,” he said. “We understand the fiscal issues the state has, but these funds were put there to make sure there are upkeep and maintenance funds as needed.”

Recent vandalism required replacement of windows at the mansion, which was done quickly because funds were readily available, he said. He also noted that a project to restore the Harkness greenhouse is half-completed, and wedding revenue funds are needed to complete it.

He noted that the Friends of Harkness group spearheaded the effort to pass the legislation in 2010 that created the fund, and that undoing it would be very disheartening for a group that contributes many hours of volunteer labor and raises thousands in donations that support the park.

Pamela Adams, president of the Friends of Connecticut State Parks, said the law was created specifically to ensure that parks could be maintained with funds not generated by state taxes.

“To have it swept away is very discouraging,” she said. “We will be testifying against this. Letters have already been written. Our parks are already at the breaking point.”

Inadequate funding for parks, she said, will hurt the state in the long run, undermining their value as tourist attractions.

In his letter announcing the plan, Malloy said it “requires actions we would all prefer to avoid” but that constituents, taxpayers, the state’s creditors and employees “all expect that we will decisively address our current year problem and turn our attention to the greater challenge we face in the upcoming biennium.”

Eileen Grant, legislative co-chairwoman of the Friends of Connecticut State Parks, however, called the plan “outrageous."

“Harkness was not given this money out of the state general funds,” she said. “Harkness earned it. The money from this savings account underwrites park expenses, ensures that the mansion is kept to pristine restoration standard and has also been utilized to match the Friends of Harkness’ donations for the joint greenhouse restoration initiative.”

She added that all state parks would be harmed by the proposed fund transfer.

“They have earned the money in them through entrepreneurial efforts,” she said. “It is no secret that parks are in critical condition already. How can anyone take measures which will degrade them further?”

Eric Hammerling, executive director of the Connecticut Forest & Park Association and legislative co-chairman of the Friends groups, said both groups are “deeply frustrated” and are encouraging members to contact their legislators with objections.

“The users of parks will suffer, and the people who encouraged DEEP (the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection) to act like a business and be entrepreneurial will be frustrated. This sends a terrible signal,” he said.

Dennis Schain, spokesman for DEEP, said the agency understands the concerns being raised by parks advocates. He emphasized, however, that the revenue funds proposed for the transfer are not the only funds available for parks' maintenance.

“We do think these funds play a valuable role in making money available for special projects, and are an incentive for park staff to be entrepreneurial,” he said. “It is difficult to see this, but all agencies have to do our part” to close the deficit.

He said that while the funds would be emptied for many parks under the plan, the parks could rebuild them with new rental revenues.

“This plan would not shut off the flow of new money into these accounts,” he said. “But it would slow down funds for big special projects.”

He added that the plan to keep $500,000 in the Harkness account recognizes that it has special needs to maintain the mansion for its lucrative wedding business. It costs about $5,000 to rent the mansion for each wedding, he said.

"But we understand the concerns of the Friends of Harkness," he said. "They're one of the most active of our friends groups. They're great partners and we understand if they're concerned and a little dispirited."

State Rep. Kathleen McCarty, R-Waterford, condemned the proposal Thursday evening. “Just to make up for this loss of savings, Harkness would need to host a minimum of 250 weddings per year — an extraordinary effort that would be worthless if the account is raided again," she said in a statement.

"The Friends of Harkness donate approximately $350,000 hours of labor to Harkness Park each year," she said in the statement. “The volunteers ... put their heart and soul into protecting Harkness with the understanding that the funds they raise will be matched by the state for ongoing restoration and repairs to park buildings."

“The state is breaking that trust and violating state statute," she said. "It is demoralizing and unacceptable."

j.benson@theday.com