Utah Legislature: Lawmakers explore idea of privatizing state parks

SALT LAKE CITY — As Utah lawmakers look to reduce spending even more in the future, they have some state parks on a possible chopping block as they explore the idea of privatizing them.

A list of six possible candidates will be drafted by an internal audit committee and presented to lawmakers this summer for potential consideration.

The step is similar, but not as drastic, as those being taken by other states around the country where bleeding budgets are forcing unpopular decisions.

Last month, the largest closure of state parks in the nation began in Arizona, and in California, 278 parks face being shut down.

Natural resource officials and the state parks board say they want to cut costs and make more money, but it also boils down to a philosophical debate.

If parks are priced high enough to generate revenue, what risk is there that the public is priced out of visiting some of Utah's natural and historical wonders? What price tag, too, do you put on natural heritage, quality of life and the preservation of Utah's history?

"If you price them high enough to make a profit, that is not the purpose of state parks," said Mary Tullius, director of the State Parks and Recreation Division. "Making a profit was never the intent when the state park system was created. We're trying to find innovative ways to help parks pay their way, but a lot of parks can't."

Rep. Kerry Gibson, R-Ogden, said state money managers are being faced with a lot of tough decisions.

"Are there particular parks that we should look at specifically that don't fit within our mission?" Gibson asked.

"They all fit within our mission," Tullius replied during a committee meeting on the issue. "Take our heritage parks out there," she added, pointing to places like the Territorial Statehouse in Fillmore or the Anasazi State Park.

Mike Styler, executive director of the Utah Department of Natural Resources, was blunt with lawmakers.

"Some of these will not ever be self-sustaining, but it does not mean they are not worth taking care of," Styler said. "Some of them are critical to our pioneer heritage."

At the same time, the department is embracing ways to be more innovative and businesslike in trying to meet the needs of park patrons, he said, including exploring dry docks for boats at some reservoirs, installing electrical hookups at new parks and even tapping into Internet connections for recreational vehicle enthusiasts.