The politicians keep cutting services like state parks and term limits won't be necessary.
Any state park system is a puny proportion of a state's budget. I wonder how the state park budget would compare to a 20% cut in the state legislature's budget.
Popular campgrounds boost the economy of gateway communities and bring tourism to the state, so closing those is idiotic. California reaps huge profit from tourism - a significant portion from campers from all over the nation. If tourists perceive that California is closed for camping (the still-open national parks can absorb only so much) then that will be a net minus for the state. That said, sparsely visited parks probably should be closed until states' revenue outlook improves.
Fortunately, national parks will never close. Their owner prints the money.
Interesting excerpts from that Virginia blog:
State Parks in Virginia account for more than $168 million in economic impact directly related to Tourism. Most of our parks are in rural areas and this tourism helps sustain those communities. Tourists don't use schools and most other local services that cost communities so it is a good deal all over. Currently, Virginia's State Parks cost the state less than $18 million. Pretty decent investment - $18 million for a $168 million return.
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In the very dark history of Virginia, we closed First Landing State Park (then known as Seashore State Park). Within a couple of years you had to hack your way through the vegetation to find some of the cabins. The Will Smith movie "I Am Legend" does not exaggerate how fast nature takes back over. For what you save closing parks, it may take much more to re-open them.
Any state park system is a puny proportion of a state's budget. I wonder how the state park budget would compare to a 20% cut in the state legislature's budget.
Popular campgrounds boost the economy of gateway communities and bring tourism to the state, so closing those is idiotic. California reaps huge profit from tourism - a significant portion from campers from all over the nation. If tourists perceive that California is closed for camping (the still-open national parks can absorb only so much) then that will be a net minus for the state. That said, sparsely visited parks probably should be closed until states' revenue outlook improves.
Fortunately, national parks will never close. Their owner prints the money.
Interesting excerpts from that Virginia blog:
State Parks in Virginia account for more than $168 million in economic impact directly related to Tourism. Most of our parks are in rural areas and this tourism helps sustain those communities. Tourists don't use schools and most other local services that cost communities so it is a good deal all over. Currently, Virginia's State Parks cost the state less than $18 million. Pretty decent investment - $18 million for a $168 million return.
