Outdoor notes

Tennis block parties

May is National Tennis Month and, to encourage people of all ages to pick up a racquet, the United States Tennis Association is serving up a community initiative across America.

From coast to coast, community tennis organizations will host "Tennis Block Parties" to encourage people of all ages and abilities to take to the court.

In the Salt Lake City area, the Tennis Block Parties will be a festival of games, lessons, and contests for players of all abilities, which will be free and open to the public. Youngsters under 10 years of age can experience the USTA's new Quick Start Tennis program. Tennis Block Parties will be held:

May 2, Ogden: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Mount Ogden Park.

May 16, West Valley City: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the West Valley City Family Center.

For more information, visit www.tennismonth.com or www.usta.com/tennisblockparty

Budget cuts for parks

The Division of Utah State Parks and Recreation is currently making cuts statewide to meet a 15 percent budget reduction.

As many rural economies rely on state park visitation, and affordable family opportunities are even more vital in these economic times, every effort is being made to keep parks and museums open, meet visitor needs, and ensure all state parks and museums remain clean, safe destinations.

The Division receives $12 million annually from the state's general fund to help manage Utah's state park system, which includes 43 state parks and museums and the state boating, off-highway vehicle and trails programs.

Agency administrators have scrutinized all budgets and implemented efficiencies to meet the $1.8 million budget cut. Cost-saving measures include leaving non-critical positions vacant, transferring and reassigning employees, reducing current expense and travel budgets, seasonalizing some operations, consolidating management of select parks, and reducing temporary and full-time positions.

Because funding to hire part-time employees was cut greatly, state park museums will reduce hours of operation.

Due to the economic downturn, the Governor's Office of Planning and Budget and Utah Legislature reduced state agency budgets to reflect the budget shortfall. The Division of Utah State Parks receives less than one-quarter of 1 percent of the state's budget.

Reservoirs full for boating