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DNCR presents parks, forests, library and cultural funding priorities as visitor numbers and grant-making remain high
Summary
Department of Natural and Cultural Resources officials told the committee New Hampshire State Parks operate largely on fee revenue and reinvest in maintenance and grants; the department described forest management, a state nursery upgrade, library services to disabled residents, arts grants and historic-preservation activity.
Commissioner Sarah Stewart presented the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources——s budget overview and said DNCR operates large and diverse programs while relying on limited general-fund support.
Parks and recreation
Brian Wilson, director of the Division of Parks and Recreation, told the committee New Hampshire State Parks have become among the most enterprise-funded park systems in the country, funding operations primarily through user fees. Wilson reported roughly 3 million recorded visitors across DNCR-managed lands in 2024, about 1,300 campsites with an overall occupancy rate of 86 percent and "weekend occupancy" that reached near capacity at many parks. He said the system——s fee revenue supports grant programs (including Land and Water Conservation Fund grants and recreation-trail grants) and local projects: "In 2024 we issued over almost $11,000,000 in grant funding externally to the agency," Wilson said, noting the…
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