The Virginia Association for Parks Commends Senate & House Budget Conferees for Increase in State Park Funding

PRESS RELEASE
Lake Anna, Virginia
For release 4:00 pm, March 14, 2010

Investment Will Enhance Governor McDonnell's Efforts to Promote Virginia Tourism

VAFP President Johnny Finch was quick to point out that "these are difficult economic times and our leaders in state government are faced with tough choices. Virginians should be very pleased to know that this funding increase was the result of a team effort that took leadership from both the legislative and executive branches of government and politicians from both sides of the aisle. It is rare to see this kind of teamwork and as a citizen and taxpayer of the Commonwealth I'm both grateful and impressed."

Finch went on to credit Governor McDonnell's "emphasis on promoting Virginia's natural, cultural, and recreational treasures" as one solid way to stimulate the state's economy. "Our state parks are ranked among the nations best managed and they offer an outstanding visitor experience for first time visitors and those who frequent state parks often. More than 7.5 million visits in 2009 - with nearly 1 million spending the night in a state park - created more than $175 million in economic impact for the Commonwealth and local communities."

The budget amendment Finch is heralding - a result of the give and take between House and Senate Budget Conferees - provides "$500,000 each year from the general fund to support State Park visitor centers and facilities as part of the Governor's Economic Development tourism promotion efforts."

Finch said his organization -- which supports more than 5,000 citizen volunteers who contribute more than 235,500 hours annually in support to state park facilities, programs, and conservation stewardship -- has been collaborating with state leaders for a decade to help focus on the value of our state parks. "Put simply, our parks are an important part of a healthy lifestyle, they conserve some of Virginia's most important natural and cultural treasures, and they are an economic engine stimulating outdoor recreation and tourism spending that is essential to the creation of quality jobs in both the public and private sectors of Virginia's economy."

Finch called the amendment "a smart economic move that will create a great return on investment since state parks will have the resources needed to enhance the experience for millions of park visitors. This will result in increasing return visits to state parks and the other tourism attractions throughout the state. The beauty of this effort is it helps 35 state parks geographically dispersed throughout the state and as a result helps communities all across Virginia from the Mountains to the Chesapeake Bay and from our northern borders with the nation's capital to the route 58 corridor along our borders with North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky and West Virginia."

For more information about the Virginia Association for Parks visit www.virginiaparks.org.