Commissioner lays out scope, costs and challenges for Vermont forests and state parks

Danielle Fitzko, commissioner of Forests, Parks and Recreation, told a legislative committee on Feb. 12 that the department oversees roughly 190,000 acres of state-managed land within the Agency of Natural Resources portfolio and operates the Vermont State Park system while facing rising costs, aging infrastructure and growing public demand.

Fitzko said the department’s work spans forestry, state parks, land administration and a business office that manages contracting and purchases. "We are forest strong," she said, adding that 76% of the state is forested. Fitzko said the department processed thousands of invoices and manages dozens of contracts to operate parks and maintain infrastructure.

The department and its staff outlined how they divide responsibilities: a Forestry Division that runs private‑lands outreach and the current‑use appraisal work; a state‑lands program that maintains trails, parking and fire towers outside developed parks; watershed‑forestry staff that protect water quality during logging operations; an urban and community forestry program that provides grants and tree planting in municipalities; a forest protection team that monitors forest health and pests; a small but expanding wildland fire team; and a forest economy program that works across the timber supply chain.

"We are forest strong and we'd like to celebrate that," Fitzko said. She described specific recent activity: the wildland fire program responded to nine fires this past fall, including a 52‑acre fire near Brandon that drew mutual aid from New Hampshire and federal resources. She said the department recorded 99 wildland fires last year and faces growing risk from human‑caused ignitions such as improperly disposed wood ash, campfires and cigarettes.

On the forest economy, Fitzko cited older economic data the department is updating: a 2017 estimate showing roughly $1.3 billion in direct economic activity and about 9,000 direct jobs in the forest sector, with broader indirect impacts the department has previously estimated near $2.1 billion and 13,000 jobs. Fitzko said the department produced the Vermont Forest Future Strategic Roadmap in response to a 2022 request from the General Assembly and that an implementation steering committee meets monthly.

Vermont State Parks: use, assets and funding

Fitzko said Vermont State Parks has 55 developed parks, 39 campgrounds, about 2,200 campsites, 51 cabins and 29 beaches, and welcomed over a million visitors in the past year. She said about 80% of visitors are Vermonters, roughly half of all visits are day use, and roughly half of overnight visitors are from out of state.

Fitzko told the committee the department’s capital infrastructure is substantial: "Our infrastructure assets are about $280 million" including campsites, buildings, wastewater and potable water systems and about 40 miles of underground piping. She said about 75% of the parks’ operating revenue comes from admissions and fees, supplemented by ski‑lease payments and a modest general‑fund appropriation that has increased in recent years to roughly $1 million.

On staffing, Fitzko said the department has "about a 35 year‑round staff" and hires "about 450 seasonal staff" for the summer. Later in the session FPR staff said the parks system employs about 43 year‑round staff; the article reports both figures as stated to the committee.

Modernization study and proposals

Fitzko described a parks modernization study completed as part of the department’s centennial that reviewed organization, financing and facilities and recommended options the department is now considering. Those ideas include dynamic pricing for busy weekends, expanded amenities such as cabins and Wi‑Fi, extended seasons by shifting more work to year‑round staff, RV hookups where electrical service exists, self‑service kiosks, and improved accessibility (ADA‑compliant trailheads and beach wheelchairs).

On rules and fees, Fitzko said admission fees are set through departmental rulemaking and not by annual legislation; changing fees requires rulemaking under administrative procedures.

Leases, ski resorts and an RFP

The committee asked about ski leases on state land. Fitzko said there are seven ski leases on state land (examples named in discussion included Stowe and Smugglers’ Notch) and that most leases are long term—50 to 60 years in some cases—so rents and terms are often fixed. She said the department is preparing an RFP to hire a firm to review all seven ski leases and better understand how multi‑resort passes and sales are counted for lease payments.

Partnerships and access programs

Fitzko described partnerships with nonprofit Vermont Parks Forever to expand access (including an initiative to let EBT‑card holders access day use through grant support), with the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps and the Serve‑Learn‑Earn network for trail and facilities work and workforce development, and with local partners for tree planting in heat‑vulnerable communities (funded in part by ARPA and the Department of Health).

Concerns and questions raised

Committee members pressed the department on equity, pricing, and local impacts: one lawmaker said full campgrounds mean Vermonters cannot get sites without planning a year ahead, and another asked whether lease terms could be opened when the use of a resort changes (for example adding mountain biking). Fitzko said lease renegotiation is difficult outside ownership changes but that the RFP aims to clarify options.

Committee members also asked about public trust and controversies around forest management on state lands. Fitzko acknowledged some public distrust when management plans lead to visible changes such as parking lots, and she said the department uses a multidisciplinary team and public scoping to develop long‑range management plans.

Next steps

Fitzko and staff told the committee that capital requests related to state parks, state lands infrastructure and a water‑quality line item will be discussed when presenters return; the forestry presentation was an overview because the staff member with capital‑line detail was absent for a family emergency and the department plans to return to the committee next week (the department mentioned next Thursday as a possible date). The department also said it is pursuing targeted funding and loan programs to support the forest products sector and facilities work.

Ending note

"We want people to be outside and recreating, but there's a balance," Fitzko said, summarizing the department’s challenge of protecting resources while accommodating growing demand and rising costs.