Policy Research Shop Testimony: March 4, 2010

State Park Funding Testimony

On March 4, 2010, Christopher Whitehead ’12, Daniel Van Deusen ’11, and Travis Blalock ’12 of the Rockefeller Center’s Policy Research Shop made a presentation in Concord to legislators from three committees of the NH House of Representatives as well as to officials from the Department of Resources and Economic Development. The students presented their findings to more than 30 members of the Executive Departments and Administration Committee, the Resources, Recreation, and Development Committee, and the Fish and Game and Marine Resources Committee, including all three committee chairs.

The meeting occurred in conjunction with the formation of a study group to assess future directions for oversight of state parks in the state of New Hampshire. Executive Departments and Administration Committee Chair Laurie Harding introduced the PRS students, who presented their findings from analysis of state parks data from across the nation. The students also provided a written report of their research to legislators. New Hampshire is the only state in the United States that provides no public funding to support its state park system.