The News & Observer reports this morning that a hefty round of budget cuts being proposed for next year include closing down Mount Jefferson State Natural Area. The rest of the state park system, including New River State Park, would shut down Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
According to the state park system, 268,000 people visited New River State Park and Mount Jefferson last year. Even if those people just spend 50 cents in the county, that's a hefty chunk of change for a county with 25,000 residents. (A study estimates each tourist visitor to a state park in North Carolina spends $23.56 per day.)
What will the deciders at the Taj Mahal in Jefferson say about closing down the county's most prominent landmark? With the previous proclamation of a return to "conservative government" we can't help but believe the Poe Posse will once again fail in their obligation to look out for the interests of the county's residents and treasures -- just as they did when they remained silent on the future of the New River.
Given that what's left of Ashe County's hobbled economy is based on tourism, we fail to see how this is going to do anything but lower us another few feet down into the dark, dark ground.
No comments:
Post a Comment