landscapes and habitats in parks are still intact. 

 Parks protect and present the unique 

 character of western life. 



Some of our parks promote awareness and 

 understanding of Native American cultures, 

 the Lewis and Qark expedition, and early 

 mining history. Parks also protect and provide 

 fishing, hiking, boating, and other recreational 

 opportunities. Due to public demand and the 

 availability of federal funding, water-oriented 

 parks have more development than the 

 historic and cultural parks. 



Most parks were started through community 

 support, which continues today. Local 

 communities often see parks as economic 

 anchors, and as their backyard community 

 center— "their" park— which may be used for 

 weddings and family/community gatherings. 

 Parks enhance local communities' quality of 

 life. The parks are also recognized as 

 economic assets to local communities and 

 educational assets statewide. Parks provide 

 outdoor classrooms. 



Partnerships with other agencies add value to 

 the system— we share and exchange 

 information, expertise, and marketing. The 

 park system includes experienced and 

 dedicated staff, including seasonals and 

 volunteers. 



Recommendation 4 : Consistent with the 

 budget priorities in Recommendation 15, 

 provide the following resources to 

 enhance the experience of visitors and to 

 sustain paric resources: 



• Improve the information available on the 

 values and services provided at individual 

 parks through brochures, web sites, and 

 other means. 



• Do more to add value to visitors' 

 experiences and enhance revenues and 

 word-of-mouth business through books, 

 videos, souvenirs, and services provided 

 primarily by the private sector. 



Improve interpretive presentations to 

 create a value-added benefit to visitors. 

 Increase and/or create opportunities for 

 schools to visit the parks. Environmental 

 education is a potential growth area (for 

 example, the Mikal Kellner Wildlife 

 Center at Spring Meadow, programs for 

 teaching kids to fish). 

 Recognize that marketing is key. We need 

 to convey the value of each park, as well 

 as marketing the "package" of the overall 

 system and other public and private 

 attractions in Montana. The specific 

 content and resources of each park are 

 what draws people to the parks and makes 

 visitors advocates for these resources. 

 Although the 1989 Futures Committee I 

 determined that using the single "parks" 

 designation provided a more consistent 

 image for the parks system, Parks 

 Division should better communicate 

 whether individual parks are 

 predominantly cultural/ historical, natural, 

 or recreational parks. 

 Use highway maps, web sites, brochures, 

 and other means to inform the public 

 about the values and services available at 

 individual parks, and whether the park is a 

 cultural/ historic, natural, or recreational 

 park. 



Foster local and statewide public input 

 and even let the public play a leading role 

 in articulating the vision of each park's 

 future. (Many individual park management 

 plans already have this input in their 

 goals.) 



Programs to enrich visitors' experiences 

 are limited. We need more volunteers and 

 resources to expand existing programs. 

 FWP should work to enable people to 

 donate land and other resources through 

 charitable trusts and conservation 

 easements. 



The complementary relationship between 

 FAS and Park programs should be further 

 developed. For example, the Parks 

 Divisions could develop linear parks 

 connecting FASs and linking non- river 



State Parks Futures Cormittee, Deoenixr3, 2002 



