What Happened?
With park systems around the country having to deal with consistently tighter budgets, a recent study of the California State Park System provides a new operating model.
So What?
The Little Hoover Commission’s report suggested a new operating model be constructed in the California Department of Parks and Recreation to properly preserve and manage its valuable lands through shared management strategies, greater use of innovation and increased transparency. The department recently proposed closing 70 parks across the state to address a $22 million budget cut which accounts for 5 percent of its overall operating budget. The report revealed:
- Bond borrowing has increased costs without stabilizing expansions
- Modern business tools are needed to increase revenue
- Department staffing should focus on acquiring private sector professionals
- Outside organizations should play a greater role in decision making
Acknowledging the poor financial moves that have been made by the department in the past, the commission is calling for the appointment of a new management team to develop a strategic action plan that leverages financial analysis tools to run the department more like an enterprise to increase revenue streams. The commission recommends the department experiment with shared management strategies that allow private sector professionals and organizations invest in the public lands, allowing for new management practices to support a more sustainable business model.
The commission’s vision for the department’s future is focused on:
- Developing partnerships between the parks department and third party agencies to share financial and managerial responsibilities between public and private sectors
- Assessing which parks should remain under state ownership due to historical significance, and which lands can be sold to private or regional investors
- Transitioning to a more enterprise-based operating model to protect assets while driving revenue
- Adjusting general fund commitments for more responsible use of state money
- Measuring department performance to incentivize financial gains
- Hiring employees with expertise in creating a sustainable business model
Local Preservation Efforts
The East Merced Resource Conservation District recently launched the Save Our River Parks campaign to raise awareness and financial support for two state parks that are expected to be among the 70 lands closed by the California Department of Parks and Recreation this summer. The goal of the campaign is to raise $64,000 to pay for maintenance and staffing costs, preventing the closing of the two parks from public use until June 2014. The conservation district is working with local advocates and park officials to improve recreation areas with support from within the community, unsure how much funding the state will be able to offer in the future.
The Fort Worden State Park in Washington is also undergoing a transformation regarding future governance strategies and management agreements. The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission is looking to develop a business model that shifts the financial reliance of local state parks off the state general fund support and places greater dependency on an enterprise-style model of operation.
Public Park Projects
Gov1 is following new strategies in park management such as revenue sharing tactics and outsourcing of various responsibilities.[/dw-post-more]