State Parks Erodingby: Jennifer DalerSat Aug 29, 2009 at 07:07:25 AM EDT |
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An article by Kevin Landrigan in yesterday's Nashua Telegraph says that the state may close some state parks rather than find a new way to manage them. This is because there is no money in the system designed to be "self-funding."
On our recent visit to the North Country, we went to Forest Lake State Park in Dalton. It is a beautiful place, but "is" will turn into "was" very soon if nothing is done. The parking lot is closed and in total disrepair. Visitors park on the road outside the closed gate. There is a building that once housed a snack bar and restrooms, also closed. Although there is a sign at the entrance saying "dogs prohibited beyond this point", people bring their dogs. Some were fairly well behaved and kept on leashes, while others were allowed to run around, urinating and defecating at will. The owners did not pick up the feces. Although another sign said "no fires" people brought their barbecues. And there was garbage left in the water and on the beach. Someone apparently comes to mow the lawn, but that is all. Greenfield State Park has also gone downhill over the past couple of years. Parks and Recreation Director Ted Austin: Degradation is real and will accelerate, force closures at a point when you can't be there safely," Austin said. Landrigan: New Hampshire is the only park system in the country that does not receive money for operations from a general fund or dedicated fees unrelated to parks. How did this come about? The Legislature and then-Gov. Judd Gregg embraced self-funding of the park system in 1991. Chair of the State Park System Advisory Council Richard Ober: "The result has been a structural deficit that has produced steady and unacceptable degradation of the system,'' Ober said. "The model has failed and must be changed." Budget aide Gail Wolek said that the park system is a service agency being run on a business model. Any surprise about the epic fail? One of the reasons tourists visit New Hampshire is for the beautiful parks. If they are allowed to decay and be closed, that will not only be bad for state residents, but also bad for businesses that rely on or are helped by tourist dollars. People will not drive to NH to frolick in dog doo. Yet another example of penny-wise and pound foolish policies leading to more and worse problems. |