CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Gov. Patrick Morrisey has asked lawmakers for a $20 million allocation for the West Virginia State Parks system.
The mention in Morrisey’s State of the State Address was a welcome sign of support for West Virginia Division of Natural Resources Director Brett McMillion. State Parks fall under McMillion’s prevue as one of the divisions of the DNR. McMillion’s career has largely been in the parks system, so he is uniquely qualified to know the needs and where they lie.
“Early in the governor’s tenure he asked us to put together an immediate needs and unfunded priority list. This $20 Million was the top of those priority items,” said McMillion.
Gov. Morrisey has shown a lot of support for the State Park System. He’s visited many to dedicate his official “Mountaineer Mile” in many of them to encourage West Virginians to visit their local park and take advantage of the walking trails along with other amenities.
The money being requested in the budget will help with a lot of deferred maintenance. Issues like worn out sewer systems, cabin HVAC, or water and electrical lines through the back side of parks. Renovation of cabins and other facilities is another big cost which for the longest time had to be added to that list of deferred items. McMillion said it’s a list that never actually gets done, but the aim is to keep moving down that list and checking of the projects which need to be completed.
“What we see is even some of our newer cottages, cabins, and lodge rooms something can happen at any time that can get put on the deferred list, so it’s ever growing,” he explained.
They’re projects which won’t get a lot of attention, unless they’re not addressed in a timely manner.
“Some of those things aren’t ribbon cutters or get big headlines, but they are such integral parts of the operation. The infrastructure has got to be in tip-top shape for our guests not to be affected by it,” he explained.
Some of the cabins and other facilities were constructed more than 100 years ago as part of the Work Progress Act and the Civilian Conservation Corps. But McMillion said it’s everything.
“The quality of materials is kind of declining, so we see the renovations we do aren’t going as far. We already do them on a five year rotation anyway,” he said.
McMillion said another way to look at those state park facilities is the quality of life they bring to the areas where they are located.
“We’re talking about growing economic development in the state and when folks come here obviously schools and healthcare are two biggies they are looking for, but recreation is right there at the top as well,” he said.