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

and combat the growing disconnect between Americans and
the natural world. State Parks launched an innovative Outdoor
Classroom Program in cooperation with the Public Education
Department, which reached 55 public school districts and
served over 85,000 kids in a three-year period, earning “A”
grades from teachers. The State Parks Division completed five
standards-based curriculum guides for outdoor classrooms in
state parks and trained 350 teachers in their use.
Over the past eight years, State Parks expanded partnerships
and successfully leveraged valuable resources. Total volunteer
hours tripled, to over 300,000 hours annually, which now
equates to almost 150 full-time staff and $5 million in labor
cost savings. The number of state park “friends” and support
groups grew from 11 in 2003 to 21 at the end of 2010 and
the New Mexico State Park Foundation increased its special
role in support of the agency. State Parks secured its first
AmeriCorps grant, and strengthened partnerships with other
key federal agencies such as the National Park Service, U.S.
Fish & Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau
of Reclamation, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. State Parks improved collaboration with other state agencies,
expanding interagency cooperation with the Tourism Department, Department of Game & Fish, Public Education
Department, Interstate Stream Commission, Department of Transportation, Department of Veterans Services,
State Land Office, Motor Vehicle Division, Department of Cultural Affairs, and the Aging and Long Term Services
Department. An agency commitment to respect tribal sovereignty and government-to-government relationships
resulted in State Parks adopting the first formal tribal consultation policy of any state agency, signing a historic
Memorandum of Understanding with the Navajo Nation, maintaining a record number of Native Americans on the
State Park Advisory Board, and completing numerous successful projects and consultations with New Mexico’s tribes
and pueblos.
The past eight years also saw important investments in the most important agency resources —our employees—and
long-overdue attention to basic agency needs and process improvements. Advancements in information technology
were employed across all state parks including upgraded internet access. State Parks invested in critically needed
equipment, significantly expanded staff training programs, revamped and improved park management plans and
park planning processes, revised numerous policies, and expanded the awards program to recognize outstanding
employees and State Park partners.
The fiscal fortunes of State Parks have risen and fallen the past eight years. The agency increased self-generated
revenues consistently from 2005 – 2010, reversing the previous eight-year decline in both categories. This was
accomplished while doing only one relatively minor fee increase to day-use fees. State Parks grew concessionsrelated
revenue and laid the groundwork for new revenue sources, such cabin rentals, before the recession forced
retrenchment and unfortunately erased those gains. During 2009-2010, the State Parks budget was cut by $3 million
and staff worked creatively to manage a high vacancy rate while maintaining efforts and programs to avoid reductions
in visitor services.
ANNUAL REPORT 2010
Photo by: New Mexico State Parks
A roadrunner at the
Living Desert Zoo
and Gardens State
Park.
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