The Blagojevich administration is closing seven state parks and a variety of historic sites throughout the state. Declining revenues, increasing deficits and an oblivious legislature are each contributors to the State’s budget woes. It appears as though a rabbit needs to take his own intitiative and jump out of a hat otherwise more closings, accompanied by layoffs and delayed payments to Medicaid providers seem certain.
Closing state parks to make cuts while the State looks for alternative revenue sources. Hmmm… What about instituting a user fee based system for the state parks? How about combining State Parks, Preservation/History agencies so the user fee pool can be enlarged and shared?
What do you think?
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3 Comments
Wisconsin sells windsheld stickers for annual state park fees. They have weekly and daily passes with higher rates for out of state people. I agree with Kay that the parks will be party places and headed for trouble if abandoned. Layed off workers would rather have fees than no job. Go for it.
If the choice is closed state parks vs. paying a couple of bucks to get in then my choice is paying a couple of bucks to get in them. The fees should be very low, however, just enough for bare bones maintenance as families need affordable places to go.
I seem to remember my family paying fees to get in some parks when I was a kid but now I cannot remember if those were in Michigan or Indiana.
I have major concerns that closed, unused state parks will end up breeding grounds for even more pot growers.
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Before closing parks they should start user fees. It would be a whole lot better than letting the parks turn into hideouts for criminals!