State Parks Facing Budget Shortfall, Need More Visitors

[white cloud]

Perry and chrony's are blaming it on "Act of God again"
Earth, wind, dah, dah, OPS.





Posted: Dec 08, 2011 6:25 PM CST Updated: Dec 08, 2011 6:25 PM CST

By Ashley Goudeau - email

When Chuck Scott and his dog Shelby have free time, they spend a lot of it at Mother Neff State Park in Coryell County.

"I'm fortunate that I live very near the park, so I can access the trails or you know, just come over and just visit or just walk," Chuck says.

But Mother Neff and the other 93 state parks have had fewer visitors than normal this summer. Thanks to intense heat, record drought and devastating wildfires. And that's bad for the parks budget. Half of the $69 million it takes to keep the parks open comes from visitors fees. And now the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has a $4.6 million budget shortfall.

http://www.kcentv.com/story/16223351/state-parks-facing-budget-shortfall-need-more-visitors