Annual Report 3 - New Mexico - Energy, Minerals and Natural ...

State Parks
promotes boating
safety.
Photo by: New Mexico State Parks Division
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State Parks successfully pushed for amendments that strengthened the New Mexico Night Sky Protection Act and,
launched the innovative State Parks Reach for the Stars Program, which promotes dark night sky protection and
astronomy education. The program won the Nebula Award from the New Mexico Historic Preservation Alliance.
Clayton Lake State Park received a prestigious designation as an “International Dark Sky Park” (only the fourth such
park in the U.S.).
State Parks completed two revisions of the New Mexico Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan
(SCORP). One policy initiative that arose from the SCORP was State Park’s launch of major new efforts to expand
trails throughout New Mexico—which the public considers a high priority. State Parks established the first fulltime
trails coordinator position, organized the first statewide trails conference in New Mexico in over 15 years,
distributed nearly $5 million in trails grants, built over 50 miles of new trail within state parks, signed the first-ever
Memorandum of Agreement between the International Mountain Biking Association and a state park agency,
launched a vision for a great Rio Grande Trail stretching the length of the entire state, and provided key support to
the Continental Divide Trail project which put New Mexico on track to be the first state to complete its section of
the Continental Divide Trail.
State Parks put “safety first” for visitors and staff and achieved historic milestones in this regard. State Parks
successfully pushed to strengthen the Boating under the Influence statute and amend the New Mexico Boat Act
to require safety education for motorboat operators and mandatory lifejacket wear for children. The National
Transportation Safety Board recognized New Mexico State Parks for these accomplishments. State Parks increased
the budget and professionalism of its law enforcement and boating programs, installed Automatic External
Defibrillators in all state parks, and established a full-time safety coordinator position that brought workplace
accidents and claims down. State Parks revamped its heavy equipment inspection and maintenance program to
improve employee safety and take better
care of assets.
ENERGY, MINERALS AND NATURAL RESOURCES DEPARTMENT
State Parks significantly increased the
number and quality of park education
and interpretation programs, setting
records for the number of interpretive
programs and visitors served through
such programs. State Parks trained thirty
staff as Certified Interpretive Guides and
three staff achieved Certified Interpretive
Trainer accreditation through the
National Association for Interpretation,
elevating the professional standards of
state park programs.
New Mexico took a national leadership
role in efforts to Leave No Child Inside