Distinctly Montana Magazine

d i s t i n c t ly m o n ta n a • s U m m E R 2 0 1 4 22 M o n ta n a i n yea rs 3 Can you DESCrIbE What VISItIng Montana'S ParkS MIght bE lIkE In 2044? hoW WIll thE uSEr ExPErIEnCE bE DIffErEnt? In 2044, I will hopefully be a 'young' 83 year-old, with a lot more time to enjoy the outdoors. Looking ahead three decades is challenging. This year Montana State Parks is celebrating our 75th Anniversary and you could say that as an organization, we've been doing some soul-searching, looking back at our great history while working with the public and our partners in recre- ation on a new strategic planning process to carry us through the next 10 years, as we work to address longstanding challenges. When asked to describe what visiting Montana's state parks might be like in 30 years, I expect it will be improved with many of the same great experiences Montanans enjoy today. I bet there will also be new opportu- nities and new types of recreation experiences to participate in. What's great about our state park system is that we can enjoy what our grand- parents enjoyed years ago — the same landscapes, the trails they hiked, the streams they fished, and opportunities to learn about our state's history. We really are an affordable way to escape the daily stresses of life and leave the computer behind. We aim to preserve, protect, and improve these same places so our grandkids can make good family memories like generations before. How will the user experience be different? That is difficult to predict. Hopefully, in 30 years, Montana State Parks will have more stable funding so the public's recreation interests will be well met. I could see more activities and services, such as more campsites — maybe privately operated, zip lines at parks, more wireless accessibility, more public/private partner- ships, and additional activities where families can learn and explore. Finally, I anticipate we will have fewer boundaries between city, county, state, and federal agencies in managing public lands. arE thE ChallEngES thE SaME for StatE anD our natIonal ParkS? In What WayS Do thEy DIffEr? In many respects, the challenges are the same. According to Montana's 2014 Outdoor Recreation Plan, both national and state parks struggle with funding and adequate staffing levels, plus maintenance backlogs while visitation continues to increase and infrastructure ages. When it comes to public lands and outdoor recreation, the public really does not understand the difference between fed- eral or state agencies; they simply want to have fun and know that our public lands and outdoor recreation resources are well managed. One key difference is that while the National Park Service brand is well known, there is a lack of knowledge about the Montana State Parks' brand and all that we represent. We are working on getting the word out. For example, we man- age seven National Historic Landmarks and additional great historic treasures, along with providing excellent places for Montanans and out-of-state visitors to go hiking, fishing, swimming, camping, boating, picnicking, and learning about nature and the outdoors in our 54 state parks. What WoulD you Say arE thE thrEE MoSt CrItICal ISSuES faCIng thE Montana Park SyStEM? We have a long track record of limited funding and staffing. In 2012, the Legislature compared Montana's State Parks to others in the Rocky Mountain West, and we largely came out in last place for staffing and funding. That surprises many people because, this is Montana! Montana is about public lands and the outdoors. StatE aND NatIoNaL ParkS INtErVIEW WItH CHaS VaN gENDErEN, aDMINIStrator of MoNtaNa StatE ParkS

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