News - State
Colorado may close state parks, lease for drilling
Posted: Jan 1, 2011 3:38 PM by AP
DENVER (AP) - State parks in Colorado may be closed, while others could be opened up for oil and gas drilling to raise money for the cash-strapped parks system.
Deep budget cuts to the parks system have prompted a five-year plan to close several parks to save money. The Denver Post reports that the agency would save $200,000 a year by closing at least four parks.
In the 2009 fiscal year, Colorado State Parks got $6.7 million in general funds. The dropped to $2.6 million in fiscal 2011. There may be no funding for state parks next year, according to the financial plan.
The report includes a suggestion that the parks explore leasing mineral rights in limited areas. The report didn't say how much the agency could raise through mineral leases.
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Information from: The Denver Post, http://www.denverpost.com
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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