The Friends of WI State Parks (FWSP) is a 501c3 organization that represents WI residents that use parks and trails. There are approximately 80 Friends Groups that support state parks, trails, and forest properties; including the Friends of the Kettle Moraine and Friends of Kohler Andre.
These local Friends Groups provide tens of thousands of volunteer hours and have delivered approximately $100M dollars to help support its mission and activities. These are the groups that are carrying the weight of funding WI parks, which is not a sustainable model.
General purpose revenue (GPR) funding of $4.5M was removed from state parks in the 2015 budget. WI is likely the only state park system that relies solely on user fees to fund parks. The self-funding experiment has not worked.
Our state parks are the gems of Wisconsin natural resources. Parks and trails have a long term heritage of connecting youth and families to Wisconsin’s natural resources. Restoring GPR revenue is the cornerstone of park funding. Without this funding, State Parks and Trails will no longer be the conduit to our state’s great natural resources.
The current fee system is pricing out families and low income wage earners by continuing to emphasize fee increases. FWSP believes there is an opportunity to have a blended funding solution that ensures the future of our state parks. The benefits that parks play in our quality of life for all people will be jeopardized. Not all people can or will pay the fee for entry. And those people will be denied the valuable physical and mental health benefits that parks offer.
Parks are long-term natural resource assets. Parks are not simply a recreational commodity that can be managed through the funds raised by fees to balance annual budgets. That approach ignores future park planning and upkeep for either land or stewardship needs, including infrastructure, invasives and wildlife management. That is particularly important because management of parks and natural resources must be viewed in a multi-generational continuum.
The loss of GPR revenue is causing the gradual deterioration of state park infrastructure and operations. The citizens of WI, as owners of this important resource, are obligated to maintain and invest in parks for current and future generations. The citizens of Wisconsin have a significant investment in State Parks. And 50% of WI residents use parks, trails and recreation areas according to the Statewide Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP)
According to WI Gateway Study, parks and trails have a $1B annual impact on the communities that are nearby parks. Tourism is a key economic driver to Wisconsin’s economy. Overall, the impact of state parks on the state and local economies is enormous. Local economies rely on attendees at their State Park to sustain their business.
We urge our legislators to restore GPR revenue and spending authority of the Park’s segregated fund as part of the budget process. This is incredibly important for WI quality of life, economic growth, and the future of our natural resources.
Michael McFadzen, Chairman Public Policy, Friends of WI State Parks (FWSP)
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