The state has finally hatched a plan to restore its truck weigh stations. New welcome centers have been opened (or will be) at every major entrance to the state. Now can something be done about state parks?
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Once a major source of pride, the parks were available free of charge to residents and nonresidents alike. Deferred maintenance has left the parks in decline, and the backlog to get them in shape reminds us of the backlog in road and bridge repair.
At Roman Nose State Park near Watonga, the lodge needs at least $1 million in repairs. Deferred maintenance has plagued parks throughout the system. Yet the news isn't all bad.
Plans are under way to privatize state lodges at Lake Murray and Lake Texoma. This is a vital step in allowing the state to concentrate on what it does best — maintain natural spaces rather than run hotels.
Tourism is the state's third-largest industry, with a $5.3 billion impact, says Hardy Watkins, executive director of the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department. Much of that spending comes from Oklahomans who take advantage of one or more of the 50 state parks.
They won't continue using the parks if the facilities are in disrepair or their experience is less than enjoyable. Too many other options are available — including pristine parks in neighboring states.
Does the state have too many parks? Perhaps, but the number of residents per acre of state park land is relatively high. Should entrance fees be charged? This only makes sense if the take is greater than what it costs to staff admission gates.
The glory days of Oklahoma's state park system have long passed. The people want good state parks; they must be willing to pay for them. The state has begun addressing some of the more critical maintenance issues, but much remains undone.
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Oklahoma should use the Las Vegas model at state parks. For 50 years you could travel to Las Vegas, stay in a very nice facility at a very low price. In fact you'd pay less there than in a hotel in OKC. Vegas did very well with this model because it brought billions to the area. The State should retain or regain ownership of lodging(rooms/RV space) and make that space available at very, very low cost. The economic benefit to the area will far offset the cost of RV spaces and motel rooms.
I hate that the Texoma lodge was demolished - what a beautiful lobby. But in the end, the same thing is happening all over the state. If we don't figure out how to get *our own citizens* to travel around to the MOST diverse, unique and beautiful landscape in the nation, we'll never have a chance to pay for whatever facilities are constructed.
Lake Texoma isn't being privatised. It's being demolished. Lake Murray is being transferred to a regional government entity. The 12 million blown on the state centennial, or the tens of million the governor wants to spend on a rapidly-falling-out-of-favor biofuels technology would renew those parks beautifully. I agree completely with the sentiment that renting rooms should be left to private enterprise. The state should forget making money on the parks. Admissions should be more of a tool of regulating attendance...keeping down oevercrowding, paying security and routine maintenance.
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Leave a comment. Log in below or sign up (it's free).Editor's note: It is not our intent to offer comments on crime or fatality stories.