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Bent County Commissioner Bill Long had a few choice words for Colorado State Parks and their plan to permanently close Point Campground at John Martin State Park.
“To me it’s unacceptable that they’re going to close that one area. If they’re not going to operate it, turn it back to the Corps (of Engineers). The public needs to have access,” Long said.
The closure is part of a plan to reduce services to the public at North Sterling State Park, John Martin State Park, Bonny Lake State Park, Lake Pueblo State Park and Cheyenne Mountain State Park.
The changes are set to begin in October and include raising some fees and increasing Colorado State Parks use of Lottery funds for operating and significantly reducing operating costs.
“Like everyone in the nation, we are coping with the realities of the global recession. The realities of reduced tax revenue have affected every aspect of state government,” a letter sent by Dean Winstanley, director of Colorado State Parks to the commissioners stated.
Bent County Commissioner Lynden Gill commented on the cost to the public of attending John Martin since it became a state park, saying many couldn’t afford to go.
Reductions to John Martin include:
- Staffing reduced by two full time employees and five temporary employees
- Permanently closing Point Campground (104 basic sites)
- Reduced Visitor Center hours (weekends only)
- Reduced cleaning and trash removal
Reduced night patrol (summer weekends only)
By comparison, North Sterling State Park will have staffing reduced by two full time employees and four temporary employees, Elks Campground will be closed (50 electric sites), the boat ramp will be closed seasonally (Oct.-April 14), reduced Visitor Center hours, cleaning and trash removal and night patrol.
Lake Pueblo will have staffing reduced by two full time and 10 temporary employees, will no longer have a guarded swim beach and will close and remove Rock Canyon flush toilets Oct. 1, replacing those toilets with one unisex CXT (toilet building).
The commissioners decided to have a representative of the State Parks come to a future meeting, possibly with Sen. Ken Kester in attendance.
Bent County Commissioner Bill Long had a few choice words for Colorado State Parks and their plan to permanently close Point Campground at John Martin State Park.
“To me it’s unacceptable that they’re going to close that one area. If they’re not going to operate it, turn it back to the Corps (of Engineers). The public needs to have access,” Long said.
The closure is part of a plan to reduce services to the public at North Sterling State Park, John Martin State Park, Bonny Lake State Park, Lake Pueblo State Park and Cheyenne Mountain State Park.
The changes are set to begin in October and include raising some fees and increasing Colorado State Parks use of Lottery funds for operating and significantly reducing operating costs.
“Like everyone in the nation, we are coping with the realities of the global recession. The realities of reduced tax revenue have affected every aspect of state government,” a letter sent by Dean Winstanley, director of Colorado State Parks to the commissioners stated.
Bent County Commissioner Lynden Gill commented on the cost to the public of attending John Martin since it became a state park, saying many couldn’t afford to go.
Reductions to John Martin include:
- Staffing reduced by two full time employees and five temporary employees
- Permanently closing Point Campground (104 basic sites)
- Reduced Visitor Center hours (weekends only)
- Reduced cleaning and trash removal
Reduced night patrol (summer weekends only)
By comparison, North Sterling State Park will have staffing reduced by two full time employees and four temporary employees, Elks Campground will be closed (50 electric sites), the boat ramp will be closed seasonally (Oct.-April 14), reduced Visitor Center hours, cleaning and trash removal and night patrol.
Lake Pueblo will have staffing reduced by two full time and 10 temporary employees, will no longer have a guarded swim beach and will close and remove Rock Canyon flush toilets Oct. 1, replacing those toilets with one unisex CXT (toilet building).
The commissioners decided to have a representative of the State Parks come to a future meeting, possibly with Sen. Ken Kester in attendance.
