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Show STATE PARK COMMISSION SEEKS $4,587,436 FOR BROADER PARK EFFORT NEW PM'i'WM Utah's State Park and Recreation Commission will submit a $4,587,436 budget request for 1965-1967 in a "broadened effort to meet recreation p return res," it was announced today. Such a "thoughtful investment in an expanded state park program can be of major importance to Utah," the Commission report said, adding that out-of-state visitors attracted by outstanding out-standing parks will bring fresh dollars to many communities. Funds trom the new Federal Bureau of Outdoor Recreation can be obtained on a matching basis to meet some of Utah's recreation growth needs, the report stressed. State Falling Behind While Utah has such advantages as a crossroads location, lakes, mountains, canyons and climate to make it a major year-round year-round vacationland, the state will "fall further and further behind be-hind in the multi-state competition for vacationist dollars unless fullest development of parklands is hastened," the Commission statement declared. Expenditures from July 1. 1951 to June 30, 1965 for purchase of parklands will have totalled $1,633,748, with the major portion of the sum going for Wasatch Mountain State Park. Just $740,592 was spent for ;ructures, parking areas, picnic fireplaces, boating boat-ing facilities, sanitary facilities and other developments in five years, the Commision noted. Boating Funds Cited Of this sum $253,416 was spent for boating areas, since by law all funds accrued from boating fees, licenses and gasoline tax rebates must be spent solely on water recreation areas. Expenditures for park development devel-opment other than boating areas totalled $487,175. Total visits to all state parks for the 1962-1964 1962-1964 period were 2.017,789. The State Park Commission has acquired 29 park areas through purchase or gift since the State Park System was established es-tablished in 1957. Major developments de-velopments were reported completed com-pleted or well under way in 21 of these areas. Since the inception incep-tion of the State Park's Boating' Division in 1959, ten water recreation rec-reation areas have been acquired, ac-quired, with launching ramps, marinas and facilities more than doubling their use. Matching Funds Available Pointing to the Federal Bureau Bur-eau of Outdoor Recreation Land and Water Conservation Fund established during the past Congressional Con-gressional session, the State Park and Recreation Commission Commis-sion expressed hope Utah "will join other far-seeing states in speedily availing itself of these matching funds. Most other states have well-developed well-developed plans to utilise such funds, while seventeen states have voted bond issues "illustrating "illus-trating their willingness to foster fos-ter recreational development at the price of indebtedness," the report added. As a result Utah has reached a crossroads in the field of recreation. The recreation recre-ation industry is the third largest larg-est in the nation and benefits each citizen directly or indirectly, indi-rectly, so "thoughtful investment" invest-ment" in a state park program must be expanded, the report urged. The Commission expressed thanks for vital assistance given by the State Road Commission, State Land Board, many County Coun-ty Commissions and private citizens citi-zens in donating time, effort and funds to develop many park areas. UTAH STATE PARKS 'r"WT 0 .l Biskra fity Mats Rom |