Memorandum 



TO: Governor Martz; Montana Legislature; Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission; and State 



Parks Visitors 

 FROM: State Parks Futures Committee II 



Date: December 3, 2002 



SUBJECT: Final Report and Recommendations 



During the past 14 months, the nine-member State Parks Futures Committee II met in communities across 

 Montana to review the condition of the state parks and explore ways to improve your parks systera At the 

 end of July 2002, the committee released its Drafi RefKM and RecmtrieiidatiorTS, and solicited public comments 

 through the end of September 2002. Written and email comments were received from a total of 19 

 individuals and organizations. The Futures Committee also held a statewide public meeting on September 11, 

 2002, through MetNet, the interactive video conferencing network. About 30 people participated via links in 

 Billings, Bozeman, Dillon, Glasgow, Great Falls, Helena, Kalispell, Miles Qty, and Missoula. The committee 

 reviewed all of the public comments and incorporated a number of changes in the attached final report. 



The recommendations in this report are intended to maintain and improve Montana's state parks system as 

 we move into the 21" century. To help meet these goals, we urge Montana's citizens and public officials to 

 constructively monitor and evaluate implementation. We encourage the Governor's Office; the Legislature; 

 the FWP Commission; and FWP Director to work with Parks Division throughout this process and to hold 

 one another accountable to the mission and vision of the parks system. The committee also recommends that 

 Parks Division periodically report to the public on progress through articles in its newsletter and on the 

 department web site. Further, we encourage the Legislative Audit Division to review Parks Division progress 

 at appropriate intervals. 



As committee member?, we support the overall vision of this report. We recognize that some of our 

 recomniendations may face challenges to their implementation, particularly during lean times such as we now 

 face. We are confident, however, that the parks staff, volunteers, and advocates we met during our travels are 

 up to the task. We hope you will join us in the ongoing effort to maintain, strengthen, and support Montana's 

 parks system for today's visitors and future generations. 



The committee gives its thanks and appreciation to Parks Director Doug Monger, Administrative Assistant 

 Debbie McRae, regional and parks managers, and division staff for their courtesy, cooperation, and 

 professionalism shown throughout our review of their work. We also thank the many members of the 

 "friends of the park" groups and other parks advocacy organizations who shared their passion and insights 

 for Montana's parks. Finally, we want to acknowledge the valuable facilitation and communication assistance 

 provided by the Montana Consensus Council. 



^^ 



man (Rep., Poison) 



Bob Keenan (Senator, Bigfork) 



(Senator, Trout Qeek) 



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/Gke Penfold,.^dr Montana, Inc., 



lie Big Mountain, Whitefisn) 



, Helena) 



