Agency: Natural Resources

Line Item: Parks & Recreation

Function

The mission of the Division of Parks and Recreation is to "To enhance the quality of life by preserving and providing natural, cultural, and recreational resources for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations." Currently Utah has 43 state parks that are a combination of heritage, scenic and recreation parks (click on the link http://naturalresources.utah.gov/divisions/state-parks.html to go to the website). Created under UCA 79-4-201, the division is responsible for management and development of all state parks, the administration and enforcement of the State Boating Act and the state off-highway vehicle program. The Board of Parks and Recreation provides policy direction.

PARKS AND RECREATION OPERATIONS LINE ITEM

The division is responsible for management and development of all state parks, statewide boating safety and statewide off-highway vehicle safety.

The Division of Parks and Recreation has two line items in its budget: Operations and Capital. The funding from the Operations line item is used for the management and development of all state parks, statewide boating safety and statewide off-highway vehicle safety. The funds from the Capital line item are used for the capital improvements and development of the facilities and infrastructure of the state parks.

Statutory Authority

The following laws govern operation of the division:

• UCA 79-4-702 allows "This is the Place" heritage park to be governed by a foundation and sets terms for a management agreement with the foundation.
• UCA 79-4-305 requires the board to formulate and execute a long-range comprehensive plan and program for acquisition, planning, protection, O&M, development, and wise use of valuable areas.
• UCA 79-4-501 requires the division to protect people and property with law enforcement. Park Rangers are given full law enforcement powers.
• UCA 79-4-403 establishes user fees for golf. These are included with the greens fees. Fees are 1.5% of green fees, and are to be used at the park where they are collected, on operating supplies, development, or equipment, and are nonlapsing.
• UCA 79-4-401 states that park operating and administrative expenses for administering the boating account may be charged to the boating account.
• UCA 79-4-402 creates the GFR -- State Park Fees Account. Revenues come from all fees collected except golf user fees and the first $75,000 of bison sales proceeds.
• UCA 79-5-103 requires the division to plan and develop a recreational trail system, work with federal land management agencies, local governments, private owners, and other state agencies to build a trails network.
• UCA 79-5-201 creates the Recreational Trails Advisory Council.
• UCA 41-22-10 gives the board power to appoint the Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Advisory Council and seek their recommendations. The division has the duty to seek the establishment of an OHV trail system and provide law enforcement.
• UCA 41-22-19 requires registration fees from Off-Highway Vehicles be deposited in the GFR -- Off-Highway Vehicle Account. However, $1.50 from each registration must go to the Land Grant Management Fund for use by SITLA on its lands.
• UCA 73-18-3 gives the board and division power and duty to make rules and enforce boating activities in the state.
• UCA 73-18-22 creates the GFR – Boating Account. Revenues come from registration fees, gasoline taxes, and related monies.
• UCA 79-4-802 creates the Riverway Enhancement Program.

Intent Language

Under the terms of 63J-1-603 of the Utah Code, the Legislature intends that appropriations provided for the Division of Parks and Recreation in Item 13, Chapter 9, Laws of Utah 2011, shall not lapse at the close of FY 2012. Expenditures of these funds are limited to: improvement and development of habitat on Antelope Island State Park $283,500; Computer Equipment/Software $82,000; Employee Training/Incentives $30,000; Special Projects/Studies $32,000; Brochures $25,000; Forms & Printing $32,000; Interns $6,000.

The Legislature intends that the Division of Parks and Recreation complete its study of state owned golf course management, including completion of a study by the National Golf Foundation, and upon completion of the study, the division will provide recommendations on whether to contract for non-governmental management of state owned golf courses through the issuance of a request for proposal (RFP). The Legislature further intends that the division report to the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environmental Quality Appropriations Subcommittee on its findings by no later than October 30, 2012.

The Legislature intends that the $50,000 appropriation increase for This Is the Place Heritage Park be transferred to the park only after the park has received matching funds of at least $50,000 from Salt Lake City and at least $50,000 from Salt Lake County.

Performance

The following are the top measures chosen by division management to gauge the success of its programs.

Total Revenue Earned: Division leadership has chosen this measure with the intention to help them keep track of the revenues generated by staff. The goal is to increase revenue by 1% over the prior year's collections.

"At the Gate" Revenue: Parks' goal is to attract more visitors each year. Rather than trying to count or estimate the number of visitors entering each park, the division is using actual revenue collected "at the gate" to measure their visitation.

Expenditures: The division is using this measure to track its expenditures.

Funding Detail

Boating Account revenues come from boat registration fees as well as from gasoline tax. Potential projects must be directly related to boating recreation and be available to the general public.

The state Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Account is generated from off-highway vehicle registration fees and gasoline tax. OHV account proceeds are generally limited in scope and are usually solicited to leverage federal matching funds (such as Land and Water Conservation Fund) for projects that have an OHV recreational component. Examples include trailhead development, campground facilities for OHV users, restrooms near trails, and motocross tracks. These funds are generally limited in amount and are available on an "ad-hoc" basis.

The revenues for the State Park Fees Restricted Account primarily come from park entrance fees, camping, and golf.

Program: Executive Management

Function

The Executive Management program includes the Director and Parks Board. UCA 79-4-202 provides that "the Director shall have the responsibility for: acquisition, planning, protection, development, operation, use, and maintenance of park areas and facilities in such manner as may be established by the policies and rules and regulations of the board." The board includes nine members appointed from each judicial district and one from the public at-large, no more than five of which may be from the same political party. UCA 79-4-301 specifies the function of the Board. This program also contains the two Deputy Directors and Administrative Secretary.

Funding Detail

Program: Park Operation Management

Function

The Park Operation Management program provides for the daily operations of the 43 state parks. Hosting the public, interpretation, law enforcement, park maintenance, and administrative functions within the parks are done within this program. This is the largest and most comprehensive program in the division.

Park rangers enforce water safety at state park and non-park sites, such as Lake Powell, and Flaming Gorge. They also enforce OHV regulations and help police patrol the state-wide trail system. During the winter they perform trail grooming on 23,000 miles of trail in a season and assist with other needs.

State parks are divided into three categories: Heritage, Recreation, or Scenic. Each park is unique and requires unique knowledge and experience from the park manager.

Funding Detail

Program: Planning and Design

Function

UCA 79-4-305 requires the division to formulate a comprehensive plan and program for the acquisition, protection, operation, maintenance, and development of areas of scenic beauty, recreational utility, historic, archaeological or scientific interest. The Planning and Design program also coordinates construction of facilities and implementation of development priorities within the division. The personnel in this program work with the Division of Facilities Construction and Management (DFCM) to ensure the most effective use of State development funds.

Funding Detail

Program: Support Services

Function

The Support Services program is responsible for the marketing, business development, public affairs, volunteer coordination, information technology, fiscal management, risk management, contract administration, reservation services, grant administration, and protective services and training (UCA 79-4-501).

Funding Detail

Program: Recreation Services

Function

The Recreation Services program encompasses the statewide boating coordination, OHV coordination, trails coordination, heritage coordination, and maintenance services.

Funding Detail

The Federal Funds come from the U.S. Coast Guard for boating safety equipment and programs.

Program: Park Management Contracts

Function

In June of 1998, the division signed a management agreement with the This Is The Place Foundation, under which the Foundation agreed to undertake all phases of operating the This Is The Place park. The division agreed to request $800,000 per year (though the Legislature may appropriate less) as a management fee, and upon appropriation, provide appropriated funds to the Foundation to assist in the maintenance and operation of the park.

This program also manages a contract with the Mountain Trails Foundation, which oversees the maintenance and operation of the Historic Union Pacific Rail Trail State Park.

Funding Detail