Economic cuts could affect favorite recreation areas

These tough economic times produce challenges for Americans seeking outdoor enjoyment in local, state and federal parks and recreation areas. Ongoing budget battles raging in Washington, D.C., and in state houses across the country may well affect your personal leisure-time plans. Park administrators wrestling with deep cuts in funding may reduce the number of days some parks stay open or close them entirely. Programs or services may disappear. Entrance fees already in place in 41 states may be increased or instituted for the first time in states without fees.

Economic realities dictate planning, pre-trip investigation and reservations to ensure access to places Americans once assumed would always be available. In some parks, visitors may find campgrounds unusually full. Foreclosures and job losses make camping fees more attractive than paying rent for folks scrambling to keep a roof over their heads, even a tent roof.

So far, Nevada's system of 25 state parks remains up and running except for the Elgin Schoolhouse Historical Site, closed in 2008 pending repair of the flood-damaged access road. Parks staffing has been reduced, and some programs would be at risk without the help of unpaid volunteers. Still a bargain, entrance fees were increased a few dollars to range between $7 and $12, but Nevada residents enjoy a $2 reduction on that fee and some others. A few day-use only parks have no entrance fee at all, just a $1 museum fee for the Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort, Mormon Station in Genoa and Fort Churchill State Park's Buckland Station near Yerington.

Nevadans who use our state parks often save on fees for entrance, camping and boat launching with purchase of annual park passes for $65. Seniors aged 65 or older who have lived in Nevada for at least five years pay just $30 for an annual pass. Ask about these and other passes at any state park or at the southern regional office in Las Vegas at 4747 Vegas Drive.

A few other recreational sites in Nevada are managed by counties, such as Washoe County's regional park at Bower's Mansion, where the grounds are still open but the house, needing repair, is now closed. The greatest number of recreation sites are administered by the U.S. Forest Service, the National Park Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or the Bureau of Land Management. In case of a federal shut-down as threatened recently, these facilities would be closed and our access to them denied, a devastating blow for outdoor enthusiasts.

Save money on use of federal recreation lands with one of the America the Beautiful Passes, available at regional offices or any federal park or site. Annual passes cost $80. Lifetime passes for senior Americans cost $10. Lifetime passes for permanently disabled citizens are free. With a pass, visitors pay no entrance fees and only half of the camping fees.

It pays to know what is happening in neighboring states where you might like to spend your leisure time. California's economic woes may cause closure or disposal of some of its 200 gorgeous parks. Close to Las Vegas, Mitchell Caverns in the Providence Mountains State Recreation Area closed in January, perhaps to reopen in October. The unique California-Nevada partnership at the Tahoe-area Van Sickle Bi-State Park set to open this summer may be at risk. The county-run Calico Early Man Site on BLM land near Barstow stays open intermittently now with funding from a citizens' support organization.

In Utah, better off right now than many states, authorities are still forced to consider reducing staff, cutting seasonal hiring, reducing outreach programs, privatizing facilities and community partnerships. No parks have been closed.

Arizona closed some parks last year. Homolovi Ruins State Park reopened last month with partial funding for one year from Hopi Tribal coffers. Lyman State Park and Oracle State Park remain closed. Affected communities dug up temporary funding to avert some other closures. Fort Verde State Historical Park, Jerome State Historical Park, Riordan Mansion State Historical Park and Tonto Bridge State Park are closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Margo Bartlett Pesek's column appears on Sundays.