January 2011 - Parks & Recreation - 15

pass failed, in Michigan, a more modest
proposal based on a similar program in
Montana, passed the legislature and is
expected to generate between $20 million and $40 million in dedicated funds
for the state park system. A crucial difference between Michigan's program and
California's proposal is that Michigan's
is voluntary. In Michigan, a state resident
can opt in to pay for the annual pass; California's would have been mandatory.
Post-election surveys in California note
that voters objected to " ballot-box budgeting, " rejecting Prop 21 by a 60 percent to 40 percent margin.
Recent developments in Georgia offer
a good example for a sustainable path to
long-term funding for state parks. Faced
with a crushing 46 percent cut in general funds since 2008, Georgia state parks
were directed by the governor and legislature to " pursue a strategy of self-sufficiency, " according to state park director
Becky Kelley. The state park system responded with a business plan entitled
" Direction 2015 " which identifies 60 park
sites for study over the next three years
through evaluating needs, analyzing capacity, and producing business plans for
each park in order to bring these sites to
full self-sufficiency. " We are trying to transition to the future while protecting and
enhancing our natural and cultural assets
in a way that is sensitive to the needs of
local communities, promotes local economies, and is responsive to protecting our
treasured resources, " Kelley says.
An analysis of the economic benefit
of the Georgia state park system by state
economic development office shows
over $650 million in economic benefit to the state and 7,000-8,000 jobs that
are dependent on or related to the state
parks. " We need to take control of our
own destiny, " Kelley says. " There are no
longer any magic bullets. "
Other states are implementing similar plans to increase the ability of the
state parks to generate revenues through
fees and charges. They are increasingly

engaging outside consultants from the
private sector in golf, hospitality, and other fields, and are engaging the support of
elected officials and local governments to
tangibly show the extraordinary economic value of parks to the state's economy.

Ever Popular by any Measure
Despite the negative projections for state
parks funding over the short term, public support for parks and conservation
remains high. Visitation to state and local parks continues to grow, while the recent passage of a dedicated tax in Iowa
for conservation and the continuing 75
percent rate of passage for bond issues
and referenda related to parks and open
space across the country demonstrates
resounding public support for parks.
Such support is crucial, as recent events

in Virginia have shown. When incoming
governor Bob McDonnell announced the
closing of five state parks shortly after
taking office, the Virginia Association for
Parks and other citizen advocacy groups
turned the governor's opinion around, a
development that led ultimately to the
rescinding of closures and a modest increase in the state parks' budget.
The worst may yet be to come for
state park budgets over the next few
years, but park systems that can demonstrate resiliency and innovation by
improving their ability to generate revenues and by building the highest possible level of public support will weather
this current storm.

Richard J. Dolesh is NRPA Chief of

Public Policy.

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