Saving state parks: Innovation is the answer

The Union Leader looks at revenue data, and find hope in the State Parks system being able to support itself.

Revenues rose because fees finally were moved to more reasonable levels. (It is unclear whether attendance was affected more by the fee hikes or the miserable weather.) The money helped shore up a parks system in need of more cash.

Some legislators want to resume financing the state parks with general funds, which was halted in 1991. A state report this week concluded that those who assume state law forbids general funds from going to state parks are wrong. The statute doesn't prevent that.

However, that doesn't mean it's a good idea to take tax money needed for courts and instead spend it on parks. Doing so would not solve the challenge of funding the parks. It would simply make funding other services more problematic.