State parks in Louisiana currently receive almost 40% less funding than they did only ten years ago. Now, the Office of State Parks is facing another 10% hit for the fiscal year that begins July 1, as reported by The Advocate in December, 2017.
If the projected 10% cuts do occur, “‘it would mean the closing of several sites, including parks and historic sites. It would translate to the elimination of 50 people, plus or minus,’ says Robert Barham, the assistant secretary in charge of the Office of State Parks. ‘We are to a point now that for any substantial cuts, they would want me to give a list of what parks can you close, but instead, it’ll have to be a list of what parks can we
keep open.’”
With state officials facing a more than $1 billion revenue shortfall, “Legislators and the governor have yet to agree on a plan for making up the deficit.”
Meanwhile, “Many of the state’s 19 historical sites are open ‘by appointment only’ and others are open just a few days a week. Most of the 22 parks have parts that are closed because of maintenance concerns.... The parks have about 300 workers – 100 fewer than 10 years ago.”
One solution to this crisis is privatization of our states parks, as proposed by Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser. “Nungesser told a northwest Louisiana luncheon audience that he’s looking for the state to partner with private companies to bolster the park system, according to an article published [in December, 2017] by the Bossier Press-Tribune. For instance, a resort conference center could be built by a private company on state-owned property next to Fontainebleau [State Park]. Chris R. Nolen, who is president of a volunteer group that supported Hodges [Gardens], doesn’t think privatizing is good idea. ‘Whenever they talked about Hodges, they talked about selling rides on zip lines and so forth. But that’s not why you go to state parks,’ she said. ‘It’s about having canoes and hiking and seeing nature up close.’”
The Sierra Club Delta Chapter heard this distressing news, and jumped into action. Led by Honey Island Group chairman Michele Johnson, the Sierra Club will hold monthly work and clean up days at Fontainebleau State Park, starting this month, on February 24. Volunteers, providing their own tools, will help to prune, weed, clear trails, and plant as necessary in the prized natural park. Club members hope to extend the program to other parks soon. In the mean time, check out our calendar page for the next Fontainebleau clean up day, and help our state maintain its natural places for all to enjoy.
LA State Park closures due to budget cuts? The Sierra Club is here to help!
February 9, 2018