If you're at all intererested in or passionate about our state park system and state-managed recreation areas, please note that the parks are scrambling to determine how to cut budgets by about $4-million prior to the end of their fiscal year....leaving just a few months to make major budget adjustments for this year, under orders from Governor Strickland. So it's not just the schools that have been told that there's no money for any state funding increases, and decreases will be the new order of business.
The parks will have to likewise for 2009, but they'll at least a bit more time to figure out where and how to get along with significantly less. In the case of the Hocking Hills Region parks, this news arrives as visitor registrations continue to rise...by approximately 20% from 2005-06, with a healthy jump expected from 2006-07 (final figures to be announced at the Hocking Hills Tourism Association's Annual Meeting, later this month). The Hocking Hills parks greet over 2-million visitors per year these days, and there are now over 700 rental cabins available in the area....and spreading beyond just Hocking County.
Park officials tell us that the Ohio State Parks themselves have never had a dedicated source of funding, so there's no continuing stream from any sort of licensing (such as watercraft as fishing). For the future, it appears that "Friends" groups, as they are known, are likely to wind up serving as such primary sources of cash for both operating and capital needs. You might have noticed the "pipe safes" for donations in certain areas of the parks....that's "The Friends" at work. The size, impact and acceptance of the various parks' Friends organizations across the state vary....a very important point to note. Less-visited parks in very rural areas might find themselves more in jeopardy, given the current funding situation. Those nearer to sizeable population centers have more to draw on for volunteers and financial support.
Although not uncommon in other states' parks, it's doubtful that we'll see admission or user fees in Ohio's 72 State Parks anytime soon. The longtime thinking here concerns insurance and liability claims....when admission fees are charged, the more successful liability/injury claims are seen.
There will be a general symposium of statewide Friends groups on April 5, at Mohican State Park. Although the groups have a common general goal, their ability to reach it for their respective parks can differ dramaticaly. If you'd like more information about the Friends of the Hocking Hills State Park, please pay a visit to our site.
©2008, Doug Parker, ikarensell Enterprises Inc. http://www.ikarensell.com
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