https://www.americancityandcounty.com/wp-content/themes/acc_child/assets/images/logo/footer-logo.png
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Hybrid Work
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcast
    • Latest videos
    • Product Guides
  • Resources & Events
    • Back
    • Resources
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • IWCE 2022
    • How to Contribute
    • Municipal Cost Index – Archive
    • Equipment Watch Page
    • American City & County Awards
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Service
American City and County
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Hybrid Work
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcasts
    • Latest videos
    • Product Guides
  • Resources/Events
    • Back
    • Webinars
    • White Papers/eBooks
    • IWCE Expo
    • Calendar of Events
    • How to Contribute
    • American City & County Awards
    • Municipal Cost Index
    • Equipment Watch Page
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Privacy Stament
    • Terms of Service
  • newsletter
  • Administration
  • Economy & Finance
  • Procurement
  • Public Safety
  • Public Works & Utilities
  • Smart Cities & Technology
  • Magazine
acc.com

Public Works & Utilities


Even with tight budgets, state parks deliver recreation opportunities

Even with tight budgets, state parks deliver recreation opportunities

Park-generated revenue used for operations expenditures grew by almost 2 percent in the latest year reported by the NASPD.
  • Written by Michael Keating
  • 30th August 2012

Tight government budgets have affected state parks. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, responsible for managing and maintaining more than 90 parks as well as generating revenue by issuing hunting and fishing licenses, had its budget cut by $114 million or 17.6 percent in the biannual 2010-12 budget. Due to the cuts, as well as wildfires and droughts in the Lone Star State, the department is looking to sign up well-heeled corporate sponsors and partners. Under the plan, companies, banks and lodging establishments could use the agency’s familiar logo and brand in exchange for cash support.

In California, the state parks are in turmoil. Following warnings that as many as 70 Golden State parks would have to close this year because of budget cuts, a secret $54 million cash stash was discovered in the California Department of Parks and Recreationcoffers, and the department director, Ruth Coleman has resigned. Over the past four years, the state has trimmed the parks department budget by more than $50 million. What’s more, the parks department has deferred or canceled $1.3 billion in maintenance. California Gov. Jerry Brown is working with legislators to determine how some of the $54 million hidden by parks department officials can be used to help keep state parks open.

Even with budget problems, state parks are key to leisure time activities in the U.S. Total attendance at state parks in the United States reached 720.6 million in 2011, which is down from the 740.7 million visitors to state parks in 2010. The number of day-use visitors dropped a little, from 680 million in 2010, to 657 million in 2011. Overnight visits, including campers and lodge visitors, grew from 61.2 million in 2010 to 63 million in 2011.

State park data, including attendance figures, are in the latest edition (Feb. 2012) of the “Annual Information Exchange” (AIX), which is produced by the National Association of State Park Directors (NASPD) in cooperation with North Carolina State University’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management. Both day and overnight visits in fee and non-fee areas are tabulated in the NASPD reports.

Total operating expenses for state parks reached $2.27 billion in 2011. By comparison, operating expenses in 2010 totaled $2.22 billion, for an increase of about $50 million for the latest year reported. Park-generated revenue used for operations expenditures grew by almost 2 percent when comparing 2011 and 2010 data. Those revenues grew from $868.6 million in 2010 to $885.1 million in 2011, an increase of about 1.9 percent.

In a future Govpro item, we’ll take a closer look at the AIX data and state park trends. Go here to view an analysis of older AIX data.

Tags: News Public Works & Utilities

Most Recent


  • technology
    To ensure success when buying tech, local governments need to do their homework
    Municipal officials need to analyze their agency’s current IT setup as they consider upgrades, says Lauren Powalisz, principal, state, local higher education leader, Deloitte Consulting, a global management consultancy that provides technology, strategy and operations and human capital consulting for many industries, including the public sector. “Performing a current IT landscape assessment is an integral, […]
  • Detroit roadway with embedded wireless vehicle charging technology is the nation's first
    After two years of construction, Detroit has unveiled the first stretch of public roadway in the United States to feature an embedded wireless in-road charging system, letting innovators test their vehicle charging technologies in a real world environment. A Ford E-Transit electric commercial van equipped with a receiver is expected to begin testing the system […]
  • Detroit's new climate strategy includes policy benchmarks for energy, water usage in buildings
    A novel efficiency benchmarking policy for building energy and water usage is a cornerstone of Detroit’s new climate strategy, which sets out a plan to reduce municipal greenhouse gas emissions by 75 percent by 2034 and completely by 2050. “I am proud to have supported this ordinance, which was initiated by Detroit’s Green Task Force, […]
  • transportation
    U.S. Department of Transportation announces $1.5M funding opportunity
    Applications are open for $1.5 billion in grants through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity program. The funding, which will be distributed to selected projects next year, helps communities across the country carry out transportation-related projects that significantly impact local residents. “Across the country, I have seen firsthand how […]

Leave a comment Cancel reply

-or-

Log in with your American City and County account

Alternatively, post a comment by completing the form below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

  • NLC releases State of Cities 2021 report
  • How local governments can get ahead of the infrastructure wave: Strategies to mitigate risk
  • Prioritizing rapid restore leads to stronger ransomware attack recovery
  • Ultrafast electric vehicle charging will propel local governments into the future

White papers


Best Practices for Grantees and Grantors: Grant Compliance

5th December 2023

The Four Key Components of Successful Digital Transformation

22nd November 2023

Navigating Today’s Greatest Workplace Challenges

3rd October 2023
view all

Webinars


Grant Preparedness: Unlocking Funding Opportunities for Your Success

10th August 2023

2023 State of Public Sourcing: Taking Local Governments into a Bright Future

1st August 2023

Stop Playing with Fire: How to Manage Infrastructure Asset Risk So You Know You’re Covered

20th June 2023
view all

PODCAST


Podcast: Disaster Management Symposium preview

13th October 2023

Young Leaders Episode 4 – Cyril Jefferson – City Councilman, High Point, North Carolina

13th October 2020

Young Leaders Episode 3 – Shannon Hardin – City Council President, Columbus, Ohio

27th July 2020
view all

GALLERIES


Gallery: Top 10 domestic city travel destinations this Thanksgiving season

22nd November 2023

Gallery: 10 American cities that have seen substantial population growth in the last five years

6th November 2023

Gallery: 10 of America’s greenest large cities

24th October 2023
view all

Newsletters

Sign up for American City & County’s newsletters to receive regular news and information updates about local governments.

Resale Insights Dashboard

The Resale Insights Dashboard provides model-level data for the entire used equipment market to help you save time and money.

Municipal Cost Index

Updated monthly since 1978, our exclusive Municipal Cost Index shows the effects of inflation on the cost of providing municipal services

Media Kit and Advertising

Want to reach our digital audience? Learn more here.

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • IWCE’s Urgent Communications
  • IWCE Expo

WORKING WITH US

  • About Us
  • Contact Us

FOLLOW American City and County ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2023 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.