PUBLIC INVITED
DIVISION OF PARKS AND RECREATION
STRATEGIC AND CAPITAL IMPROVMENT PLAN OUTREACH WORKSHOPS
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Tuesday July 15, 2008 |
Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forest Meeting Room |
| Thursday July 17, 2008 |
North Country Resources Center, |
| Tuesday July 22, 2008 |
Forestry Learning Center, Shieling Forest, Peterborough |
| Thursday July 24, 2008 |
Urban Forestry Center, 45 Elwyn Rd, Portsmouth |
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Time: |
Registration at 6:00 pm. Public workshop begins at 6:30 pm with a short presentation and then participants will be asked to break into small, facilitated working groups. Sessions end by 9:00 pm |
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The Purpose: |
This series of workshops is being held throughout New Hampshire to provide the public a chance to give input on specific topics in regards to a wide range of state parks’ issues, concerns and opportunities. These workshops come after initial meetings with the State Park Advisory Council, a committee of pertinent agency and recreation organization representatives, and with special recreational user groups. The information from those meetings will shape the direction the public workshop takes. |
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Background: |
RSA 216-A:3-c directs the Parks and Recreation Division to publish a comprehensive development plan for the state park system. The plan has two goals; a strategic plan for the Division and a capital improvement plan for the facilities managed. Thomas Kokx Associates was selected to assist the Division to develop the plans. The scope of work includes developing objectives, goals, and strategies for the Parks, Trails and Historic Sites Bureaus. Because of the large scope of work, public collaboration in the early stages of the plan is essential in assuring the consultant identifies public needs and concerns. |
For more information on this project please contact,
Johanna Lyons, 603/271-3556, jlyons@dred.state.nh.us
Planning Ahead
The Division of Parks and Recreation is part of the Department of Resources and Economic Development and manages over 72 state parks, campgrounds, thousands of miles of trails, historic sites, waysides, and natural areas.
RSA 216-A:3-c directs the Division to publish a comprehensive development plan for the state park system. The plan has two goals, a strategic plan for the Division and a capital improvement plan for the facilities we manage. The law outlines the components to be included in the plan and includes the following;
(a) An analysis of the recreational needs of each geographic region of the state and the degree to which existing park facilities address those needs.
(b) An evaluation of overall state park system operations to identify strengths, weaknesses, and future approaches to increase revenue and simplify operations.
(c) Specific goals and objectives for the park system.
(d) A report on the progress in meeting goals and objectives during each biennium.
(e) Identification of areas in which there is a need for physical expansion of park properties.
(f) Identification of park system properties which are surplus to the state's needs.
(g) A summary of the division's planned maintenance program for park facilities, including, but not limited to, measures to protect against undue environmental stress.
(h) Proposed improvements to park facilities, including major renovations, repairs, additions, or new construction.
(i) A full evaluation of facilities, profit and loss, and usage trends in each state park and a comparison of such usage to national trends.
(j) A continual overview of marketing approaches and reservation systems to maximize day rental usage of the state park system.
(k) The adoption of uniform standards for managing facility day use including uniformity in fee structure, reservation procedures, and monitoring of use.
(l) An analysis of whether leasing or outsourcing certain state park functions, or entering into public/private partnerships would increase revenues and simplify operations.