Mammoth Cave National Park, May 25, 2009
(click on image for larger version)
Gallery: Mammoth Cave National Park
See more of our Image Galleries at Haw Creek.
Devil’s Den State Park, Arkansas, March 1, 2008
Lake Devil trail
(click on image for larger version)
Information: Devil’s Den State Park info
Gallery: Devil’s Den State Park
See more of our Image Galleries at Haw Creek.
Small arch near Delicate Arch, Arches National Park – September 24, 2007
(click on image for larger version)
Gallery: Arches National Park
See more of our Image Galleries at Haw Creek.
Financial woes of another state budget could result in more park closures. An Associated Press report in Business Week says funding proposed in Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal’s budget recommendations could prevent a new state park from opening as scheduled and force the closing of other parks.
"We’re going to have to make some tough decisions because we don’t want to thin the soup any more," Johnson said. "It will mean shutting down the parks that don’t have as high visitation so we have the resources to maintain those parks that have higher visitation."
Johnson said the cut would mean the state parks won’t be able to hire maintenance workers, rangers, workers for fee collection stations and other employees needed to run all the parks. Johnson said his office would look at park closures and more limited hours, but he said it was too early to say which parks would be shuttered.
Read the Buisness Week article: Parks chief: La. gov’s budget would force closures.
Continue reading about More state parks in danger of closing.
In today’s hard economic times, closing state parks seems to be a remedy that many states have used or are considering. A Las Vegas Sun article says Nevada legislators are considering closing all of the state parks in Nevada.
The Nevada Legislature is thinking of closing state parks as it considers how to patch an estimated $900 million budget gap, a move that would save a few million dollars while killing the economies of rural towns and stunting tourism efforts across the state, opponents of the idea say.
Gov. Jim Gibbons has suggested a 10 percent budget reduction for a number of agencies, including the State Parks Division. But the Interim Finance Committee could take that a step further. At its meeting in Las Vegas on Thursday, the committee is expected to consider following the lead of cash-strapped states such as California and Arizona, that have closed some or all of their state parks.
In Nevada, the proposal is the brainchild of Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford, D-Las Vegas, who says he is considering shutting down all state parks to save money.
Read the entire article: Would closing state parks to save money do more harm than good?
Continue reading about State park closings – is Nevada next?
View from Ozark Highlands Trail along Lake Fort Smith, October 21, 2008
Information: Lake Fort Smith State Park - The State Park that Moved.
Gallery: Lake Fort Smith State Park
See more of our Image Galleries at Haw Creek.
A proposed $20 million New York state budget cut will likely result in closure of New York state parks. A Saratoga Springs Saratogian report says that state parks, already hit hard by previous cuts, are in peril from further cuts.
“Every region will be impacted. It’s not just small, fringe sites. Some of the largest parks might close because they’re the most expensive to operate — Jones Beach, Niagara Falls.”
Unfortunately, possible closings come at a time when people need parks most. Last year, statewide usage increased by2 million visits — from 54 million to 56 million — as residents sought inexpensive, close-to-home vacations. This year, Moreau Lake State Park’s campgrounds are already booked most weekends.
“When times are tough, people use state parks,” said Julie Stokes of Greenfield, former deputy state commissioner for operations. “The impact would be very large. A ton of people from Troy use Grafton Lakes. They bus kids out there. That park is absolutely jammed, seven days a week.”
Read more in the Saratogian: Proposed state budget imperils state parks
Continue reading about New York State Parks in Peril of Closing?
Also known as red squirrels, chickarees are especially fond of pine seeds. To get at the seed, the cones are pried open, leaving a pile of debris that can be up to 3 feet across. Whole cones are stashed in middens for winter use, Often, several generations will add to the same midden over a period of 20 years or more.
Typically, a chickaree will be heard before it’s seen, making a loud rackety call when an intruder enters its territory.
Bear Lake Trail, September 3, 2009
Rocky Mountain National Park
Gallery: Bear Lake and Emerald Lake Trails – September 3, 2009
See more of our Image Galleries at Haw Creek.
Devil’s Den State Park, Arkansas
June 21, 2008
See the photos in our Devil’s Den Gallery
Devil’s Den State Park is located in a deep valley of the Boston Mountain region of the Arkansas Ozarks.
In 1933, Lee Creek Valley was selected as the location for a new state park. Wood and stone park structures, including a stone dam across Lee Creek to form the 8-acre Lake Devil, were constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps using local native materials.
Information: Devil’s Den State Park
Gallery: Devil’s Den State Park
See more of our Image Galleries at Haw Creek.
Wishing Well Overlook and, below, Lake Ponder Barrier-Free Trail , Crowley’s Ridge State Park, Arkansas, May 2009
Gallery: Crowley’s Ridge State Park
See more of our Image Galleries at Haw Creek.
Recent Comments