Commission approves one‑year extension of Game, Fish & Parks collector‑road funding for FY27

The South Dakota Department of Transportation commission voted April 23 to extend for one year the memorandum of understanding that provides annual collector‑road assistance to the Department of Game, Fish & Parks and to allocate the requested FY27 payment (presented as $2.88 million).

Kevin Robin, Department Secretary for Game, Fish & Parks, summarized the five‑year partnership (beginning in 2021) that has supported improvements to collector roads to state parks and recreation areas. Robin said the program helped complete work in 32 park and recreation areas, covered about 200 miles of roads and led to three bridge replacements. He and Adam Claus, planning and development administrator for parks, presented the FY26 progress reports and a proposed FY27 project list tied to the requested FY27 appropriation.

Claus clarified the commission is being asked to provide the funding allocation only; project selection and reimbursement requests remain the responsibility of Game, Fish & Parks and the commission's oversight. Commissioners asked about bridge locations, project accounting and the degree to which GF&P matches DOT funds; Robin said FY27 would also include about $7.1 million of the agency’s own capital development funding for other park infrastructure.

A motion to approve the one‑year extension and the FY27 funding amount was moved and seconded; the commission called the roll and approved the request.

Robin said the program is intended to maintain and improve access to outdoor recreation areas and that the department will submit project reimbursement requests in time for the close of the fiscal year.