This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
What is the value – real, aesthetic and intangible — of a state park? It is a loaded question, and of course, everyone has a different answer unique to his or her own experience. Those experiences vary from park to park and state to state.
In Utah, state parks provide an escape for individuals or their families for an hour, the day, a weekend or a week. For others, the parks are a place to learn about the prehistoric past or modern history.
Don't forget the recreational aspect of parks. They provide a place to wet a fishing line, hit a golf ball, take a hike, go sailing, pitch a tent, ride a bike, roll down a sand dune, buzz along on an all-terrain vehicle, dip a canoe paddle and kick along on Nordic skis.
Or, as is the case with some people, all of the above.
Utah's state park system is under extreme stress, due largely to massive budget cuts ordered by the Utah Legislature. There are calls to privatize the parks, hand over law enforcement to local entities and reduce staffing.
State park officials were ordered to trim $3 million, resulting in the loss of 23 full-time permanent positions. Real people who will not be cleaning rest rooms, taking fees, patrolling reservoirs, leading birding walks or talking about local history.
Meanwhile, state lawmakers, not wanting to appear to be sticking it to the people of Utah, will not allow state parks officials to increase fees to continue providing basic services.
So, rather than having people pay a little bit more to enjoy the 43 parks in Utah's system, politicians would rather risk losing them altogether.
The Salt Lake Tribune is diving into the issue with a series of stories on Utah state parks this summer. The project starts Sunday with an overview of the parks' funding issues by Tom Wharton and a sidebar on the people and places impacted by the budget cuts. The package continues July 5 with stories about how history museums are one of the biggest money losers in the state parks system and how some managers are finding ways to generate more income.
The series will delve into the challenges of providing opportunities for recreation and education while handling the responsibilities of managing the state's waterways, off-highway vehicles and trails.
Some parks provide an important visitor base for small communities that benefit from local jobs and services like food and gas. Some of the biggest money makers, but also some of most financially strained parks include golf courses.
Budget cuts are not only being forced on state parks in Utah — other states are feeling the sting as well.
Some Utah parks have already gone the private route and are experiencing less than stellar results. We will visit the parks to see what, if anything, has changed since they were owned by the state.
Do you have special memories of Utah state parks? How do you think you will be impacted by the budget cuts? Are you concerned about the reductions or do you feel this is a case of politicians reeling in unnecessary spending?
Share your thoughts with us by sending an email to outdoors@sltrib.com with "State Parks" as the subject.
Brett Prettymanis an outdoors columnist. Reach him at brettp@sltrib.com