News Release: Start Parks Open Despite Budget Bill Delay

April 2, 2012


State Parks Open Despite Budget Bill Delay


The Kansas Legislature adjourned March 31 for its three-week break without acting on the supplemental budget bill. The bill includes approximately $800,000 in additional funding for Kansas state parks, which is less than the $1.2 million Governor Brownback included in his supplemental budget recommendation. The added money is needed to offset losses in 2011 park revenues when a long period of high summer temperatures and persistent blue-green algae blooms at some reservoirs discouraged visitors from using the parks. The state park system is primarily funded by a combination of park fee revenues and state general funds. All state parks are open and there are no plans to close any parks.

According to Robin Jennison, Secretary of the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT), the agency had planned for the possibility of the supplemental budget bill not passing until late in the legislative session. “Not having the additional funds will hamper us, but we have no plans to close any state parks,” he said. “Until the supplemental funding is received, we’ve been drawing from the park road improvement fund to pay park employees. We expect to continue doing that until the bill passes, and we’ll have to return the money to the road fund before the fiscal year ends. Also, we won’t be able to hire seasonal employees until the supplemental funding is assured. As a result, there may be a reduction or delay in some park maintenance activities, such as regular mowing.”

On Saturday, March 31, the state parks sponsored a free park entrance day, with open houses and special events at most parks. The annual statewide event was designed to boost park attendance by attracting new visitors, thanking regular patrons, and showcasing the tremendous variety of outdoor activities that the state parks have to offer. The event was well-received, with many parks reporting an outstanding turnout – aided by the unusually mild weather across the state.

Kansas state parks hosted more than an estimated 6.1 million visits in calendar year 2011, down from an estimated 7 million visits hosted in 2010.