Parks to remain open despite budget cuts

It won’t be a walk in the park, but the state plans to keep its North Idaho parks open and services available this year despite a proposed $5.1 million in cuts.

“The agency’s goal is to keep parks open and services available for customer use,” said Jennifer Wernex, Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation spokeswoman. “We’re going to work diligently to keep services levels high.”

A draft business plan for the department lists several ideas on how to keep parks open amid budget cuts, including increasing volunteerism and staff duties, partnerships, management takeovers, increasing fees, job cuts and shortening seasons of use.

“We will be operating through the next fiscal year on a significantly reduced budget but have proposed a plan, utilizing RV registration funds, our available cash balances and workforce reductions to manage to the loss of funding,” Wernex said. “We will also be reliant more so than ever on seasonal staff and volunteer support. We may open a couple weeks later than usual or close a little earlier than usual in some parks.”

\IDPR Director Nancy Merrill told legislative budget writers this week she plans to cut 25 jobs at agency headquarters.

While alternative management plans are being discussed for some of the state’s 29 parks and recreation pathways, including Clearwater County taking over Dworshak State Park, there are no such talks for local parks, Wernex said.

Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter originally proposed eliminating IDPR, but worked out a deal with Merrill two weeks ago to keep it intact, as long as it reduced its budget.

“We have proposed that we begin the process of weaning ourselves from the general fund,” Merrill said. “It will be painful.”

A new fee schedule implemented on Jan. 1 increases day-use revenue by about 25 percent and overnight use on average by 15 percent. Campsite fee increases are $2 to $3, vehicle entry $4 to $5 and annual passports $25 to $35.

While the increases are in place as an emergency rule, the Legislature this session is expected to make them permanent.

The plan also calls for establishing a nonprofit to raise money for park development and promote an increase in volunteerism.

The parks department will tap local economic development interests for marketing. A 5 percent growth rate in usage is projected for area parks.

Here are other strategy ideas — specific to local parks and pathways — to keep the sites open:

n Coeur d’Alene Parkway (Coeur d’Alene to Higgens Point) — work with the owner, Idaho Transportation Department, for possible cost sharing by 2013;

n Old Mission (Cataldo) — negotiate with the owner, Coeur d’Alene Tribe, on cost sharing; consider automated kiosk to improve day-use fees and charging school groups for tours; Sacred Encounter exhibit expected to increase use starting in 2011

n Farragut — convert day-use facility to overnight; reopen shooting range; work with Fish and Game to fund a boat ramp and shooting range; build Gilmore campground loop by 2013

n Heyburn — increase moorage and leaseholder fees by 30 percent for 2010; open retail store in visitor center; develop Rocky Point Lodge into family/group use facility

n Priest Lake — invest in Lionhead Group Camp and Indian Creek cabins to increase revenue; recent electrical upgrades to camp sites will improve RV customer service

n Round Lake — add paddle rentals

n Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes (between Plummer and Mullan) — marketing assistance from Department of Commerce, invest in bicycle camping.