NH Parks and Recreation
Strategic and Capital Improvement Plan Outreach
Workshops
Planning Ahead
RSA 216-A:3-c
directs the Division to publish a comprehensive development plan for the state
park system. The plan has two goals, a strategic plan for the Division and a
capital improvement plan for the facilities we manage. The law outlines the
components to be included in the plan and includes the following;
(a) An analysis
of the recreational needs of each geographic region of the state and the degree
to which existing park facilities address those needs.
(b) An evaluation
of overall state park system operations to identify strengths, weaknesses, and
future approaches to increase revenue and simplify operations.
(c) Specific
goals and objectives for the park system.
(d) A report on
the progress in meeting goals and objectives during each biennium.
(e)
Identification of areas in which there is a need for physical expansion of park
properties.
(f)
Identification of park system properties which are surplus to the state's needs.
(g) A summary of
the division's planned maintenance program for park facilities, including, but
not limited to, measures to protect against undue environmental stress.
(h) Proposed
improvements to park facilities, including major renovations, repairs,
additions, or new construction.
(i) A full
evaluation of facilities, profit and loss, and usage trends in each state park
and a comparison of such usage to national trends.
(j) A continual
overview of marketing approaches and reservation systems to maximize day rental
usage of the state park system.
(k) The adoption
of uniform standards for managing facility day use including uniformity in fee
structure, reservation procedures, and monitoring of use.
(l) An analysis
of whether leasing or outsourcing certain state park functions, or entering into
public/private partnerships would increase revenues and simplify operations.
Public involvement is an
important part of the development of this plan and the Division will be holding
public meetings through out the state in the coming months.
Public Invited
Division of Parks and
Recreation Strategic and Capital Improvement Plan
Outreach Workshops
Tuesday July 15,
2008
Locations: Society for
the Protection of New Hampshire Forest Meeting Room
54 Portsmouth Street
Concord
Thursday July 17,
2008
North Country Resources
Center,
629B Main St., Lancaster
Tuesday July 22,
2008
Forestry Learning
Center, Shieling Forest, Peterborough
Thursday July 24,
2008
Urban Forestry Center,
45 Elwyn Rd, Portsmouth
Time:
Registration at 6:00 pm. Public
workshop begins at 6:30 pm with a short presentation and then participants will
be asked to break into small, facilitated working groups. Sessions end by 9:00
pm
Purpose:
This series of workshops is being held throughout New Hampshire to provide the
public a chance to give input on specific topics in regards to a wide range of
state parks' issues, concerns and opportunities. These workshops come after
initial meetings with the State Park Advisory Council, a committee of pertinent
agency and recreation organization representatives, and with special
recreational user groups. The information from those meetings will shape the
direction the public workshop takes.
Background:
RSA 216-A:3-c directs the Parks and Recreation Division to publish a
comprehensive development plan for the state park system. The plan has two
goals; a strategic plan for the Division and a capital improvement plan for the
facilities managed. Thomas Kokx Associates was selected to assist the Division
to develop the plans. The scope of work includes developing objectives, goals,
and strategies for the Parks, Trails and Historic Sites Bureaus. Because of the
large scope of work, public collaboration in the early stages of the plan is
essential in assuring the consultant identifies public needs and concerns.
For more information
about this project visit
http://www.nhstateparks.org/planning-development
or contact
Johanna Lyons, State
Park Planning and Development Specialist
603-271-3556
jlyons@dred.state.nh.us