Senate Passes Bill To Improve State Parks

Press Release

Legislation sponsored by Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus (D-Las Vegas) to sell 80 acres in the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area to the Department of Interior and to use the proceeds for a trust fund to improve state parks unanimously passed the Senate today.

"This bill would mean more cohesive, comprehensive management of the lands in Red Rock Canyon," Titus said. "Equally important, it would provide our state a stable source of funding for the maintenance of our state parks, many of which are in deplorable condition."

SB 318 would raise about $16 million, Titus said, by selling the land, which the state has owned since 1971, to the federal government. The proceeds from the sale would be put in a separate trust fund, and at today's interest rates, would generate about $230,000 annually to be used for the repair and maintenance of state parks.

"This new funding would not be used to replace, but would supplement current funding for our state parks," Titus said. "Because the revenue from the trust fund would be predictable, and not dependent on the state economy or the whims of the legislature, it would enable more long-range planning for repairs and improvements to recreation areas."

Titus went on to say that all Nevadans will benefit from the legislation. She pointed out that in a recent survey, 58% of residents living in urban areas said they had visited a Nevada state park in the last year.

"If you visit any of our state parks, you can see immediately that the maintenance of these areas has not kept pace with the demands created by the rapid increases in our population and the increasing numbers of out-of-state visitors," the Minority Leader said. "This funding will enable us to better develop ‘the other side of Nevada,' to enhance tourism in remote areas of our state, to bring much needed economic development to rural Nevada and to preserve our state's wonderful natural resources and beautiful scenery."

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