Misplaced recreation priorities
Based on these two pieces from the Courant, I've got to say that our state's priorities seem to be a bit misplaced when it comes to funding recreation and leisure. While local projects seem to get funding, the Courant is reporting that state parks and the Bushnell don't receive nearly enough funding.
I visited Kent Falls and Mt. Tom state parks yesterday. And they seemed nice, but I was astounded to read that Hammonasset no longer has a visitor's center. I loved the visitor's center when I was a kid.
Hammonasset attracts 1.7 million people annually and was the location McCarthy chose for a summer season-opening celebration Friday morning. But Hammonasset has no visitors' center. The spot where the visitors' center stood, near the midpoint of the 2½-mile beach, is now a sandy gap between twin stands of pine trees set in concrete beds. The one it once had was demolished several years ago after it was deemed beyond repair, said Paula Schiller, a Friends of Hammonasset board member. "If you show this to anybody who used to use the beach a lot, they go, `Huh?'" Schiller said one day earlier this month, gazing wistfully at the gap. (by Joel Lang)"Huh?" My thoughts exactly.
And the Courant is also editorializing on funding for the Bushnell, going so far as to write
The arts in Connecticut need a decent, reliable stream of money and a fair way of distributing it so it doesn't end up mostly in the hometowns of political leaders.I wonder what they mean? Certainly they're not referring to Jim Amman's Music Hall of Fame.
Tim White
11 comments:
Bush has cut funding for our state parks every year since being elected. I read an article concerning Yellowstone, where the rangers there have gave concerns because they are so underfunded.
The boardwalk at Hammonasset Beach was also torn up and the majority was never replaced. Many people would walk the boardwalk now you walk the sand. The state funding was there, what happened to it? There is also no money for lifeguards. How can you have that many visitors and not fund lifeguards?
...because the state is funding playgrounds, skateboard parks, and turf fields in various towns. State funding should go to state parks, local funding for local recreation.
I haven't followed national parks funding lately, but when I did... I didn't care for the way in which they were funded.
We need people to run for State reps. who will change the way the system is. We need people that will stop wasteful spending, until Hartford changes this will continue.
Get with it old timer
The cows will be fine
The chickens will be fine
The pigs will be fine
Even they want WS and all it means
GERTTTTT-coming soon to a town near you
WS and the boys give you sommmtin niceeee
Big and better stores
REst.
Gonna happens train rolls down the traqcks
Tim, you need a spam blocker for the IP address that keeps sending the "See Dick and Jane build a mall" nursery rhymes
Evidently the comments made by the individual made at 7:52 on this blog and several other are written by a high school honor that specialized in band, twirling, winterguard, football and English. And for this the school system is proud of their educational achievements.
Once again money that is generated by park revenues goes to the "GENERAL FUND". What happens after is a mystery. Why can't a simple law be pased that would keep the money in the park system period? Stop playing with our money. For many people this is their only recreational outlet and vacation time.
I am going to run for office on the no tax plan-everyone has to fix their own roads and put out their own fires educate their own kids and if you need a doctor you need to have your own medicine grown in the back yard
Certain thing are taxed for the purpose of maitaining ie. gasoline tax (to maintain state roads)? If Social Security taxes were used for their purpose we would not be in so much trouble.
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