Message From Doug

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When you think of what makes a community a great place to live, what do you think of? If you have young children, you may consider the school system. If you are retired, you might think of the climate. If you are a businessperson, you might look into the economic health of a place. Often people consider parks and recreational opportunities an important asset.

Our state parks are part of the economic and social fabric of many communities across Montana. They provide places to escape to, places to share with visitors from out of town, places for families to play in. The Parks Division also has a number of programs that benefit local community recreation opportunities.

In this issue you will discover the Land and Water Conservation Fund, a federal funding program that has pumped over $31 million into community outdoor recreation projects in communities large and small across Montana. You will learn how teachers use state parks as outdoor classrooms enhancing the lessons they teach. You will find out about a new state park acquisition, Travelers Rest, which preserves an important piece of Montana history and has the potential to help the economic development in the Lolo community.

Many Montana State Parks are closely linked to healthy nearby communities. Our parks are some of the most valued resources of these communities. I hope you enjoy this issue of Montana State Parks News. As always, if you have any comments drop me a line at dmonger@state.mt.us.