Carpino Votes to Improve State Parks

Posted on March 14, 2014

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HARTFORD- State Rep. Christie Carpino (Cromwell & Portland) today voted yes on a proposal to better maintain, fund and operate our state park system in Connecticut.

The legislature’s Program Review and Investigations committee, which Carpino is the head House Republican member, undertook a study last year which focused on state funding for state parks and forests with an assessment of whether funding has been adequate to support short- and long-term operational needs of parks and forests will be made.

Carpino said, “Unfortunately, Connecticut has long neglected our state parks. The hope is this proposal puts some accountability back into the system. Our pristine parks are one of the main reasons tourists come to Connecticut and provide an economic jolt to local surrounding businesses.”

Carpino championed the section of the bill which will provide a measure of challenges the parks face. This provision will provide a clear assessment on the hurdles and weaknesses of our resources so they can be addressed.  She also believes having a portion of the revenue DEEP collects from the rental of any cabin from the state parks and forests being deposited into the maintenance, repair and improvement account is a good first step in committing to state park up keep.

The study found that funding and staff for state parks has been declining Planning for the park system has defaulted to “crisis management” according to the study.

The Program Review and Investigations committee drafted legislation HB-5370, An Act Implementing the Recommendations of the Program Review and Investigations Committee Concerning the Performance of Connecticut’s State Parks, based upon the 2013 study which included:

·         The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) must fully develop and submit the necessary reports required under current state law, and ensure each report is available on the department’s website for state parks in accordance with the statutory timeframes.

·         Fifty percent of all revenues, from renting cabins located within state parks or forests should be deposited within a Maintenance, Repair, and Improvement account for the specific park where such cabin(s) is located. The funds should be used to help offset maintenance costs of the cabins.

·         The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Parks Division should fully coordinate with Friends groups and other parks associations to ensure in-kind labor and financial resources provided by such groups are taken into consideration for budget and planning purposes.

·         The Parks Division should create a Results Based Accountability-style report card regarding park performance in accordance with the guidelines established by the legislature’s Appropriations Committee. The report card should include measures regarding park use (e.g., attendance, safety, and satisfaction), as well as measures of park operations (e.g., planning efforts) and park personnel.

·         The Parks Division should review the use and level of fees for each park location not less than once every five years, as part of an overall park review.

The bill passed unanimously and now goes to the House of Representatives for a full floor debate.

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