Cutting parks a dumb move

Resslin' Around, by Casey Ressler

Two weeks ago, almost 1,000 students from around the Mat-Su Valley took part in the annual Coho Carnival, as part of an Alaska Department of Fish and Game project. At Matanuska Lake, the kids learned about the life cycle of fish, the ecosystem, safe boating techniques, and the importance of personal flotation devices.

All in all, they had a blast. So naturally, it is time for politicians to step in and ruin that.

See, when those students take their parents to Matanuska Lake this summer to show them what they learned, they will be greeted by a padlocked front gate, thanks to the state shutting down nine state parks, seven of which are in the Valley.

The closure of the state parks came in a twice-extended special session in Juneau -- the kind of sessions that cost taxpayers an estimated $25,000 a day, according to Pam Varni, the executive director of the Legislative Affairs Agency, because politicians can't get anything done in the 120 days they are allotted in the first place.

While spending taxpayers' money on a seven-day long special session at a total cost of around $175,000, the Legislature managed to shave $186, 100 out of the parks budget.

At the last minute, the state restored funding for two parks to remain open in Sitka, but the seven in the Valley will remain closed.

Jim Stratton, the Division of Parks' director doesn't see the logic in the cuts that those we send to Juneau do. "We could keep these parks open without any general fund money," Stratton said last week to a Frontiersman reporter. "I have no idea why they are doing this -- it's illogical, it's insane, it's ludicrous, it's idiotic -- pick an adjective."

Actually, I like a noun instead -- politics.

Only those in Juneau could turn summer recreation opportunities that ultimately pay for themselves into political battles, but that is just what they've done. And we shouldn't be surprised, either. This time, it's the state parks we all use that got cut. Next year it could be the school district budget, or something else that doesn't seem all that important.

At the parks, they are going to lock the gates, board up the outhouses, remove the garbage bins and take away the rest of the facilities.

Basically, they are going to turn the parks into a free-for-all for residents.

You won't be allowed to drive to them, but you are allowed to walk into the parks.

There won't be picnic tables, but you are more than welcome to sprawl your stuff out anywhere you please.

And, since there won't be any garbage bins, you can bet there will be garbage flying around everywhere.

Not to mention the cut also means two people are losing their jobs, and three more positions simply won't be filled.

Creating unemployment and ruining recreational opportunities that pay for themselves sounds like just the reasons I go to the voting booth every election. There is a way to get the parks opened, but not this summer.

The next time an election rolls around, make sure you go to the ballot box.

Quit allowing the same people to do the same things. The only thing that speaks louder than money in Juneau is votes.

It's politics as usual, and I understand that, but it certainly doesn't make it any easier to explain that to those elementary school students who are excited about what they learned at Matanuska Lake.

Casey Ressler (valleylife@frontiersman.com) is the Valley Life editor and frequent parks user. Or at least he used to be.