Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks And Recreation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
IDPR reports $1.3–$1.4 billion contribution to Idaho outdoor recreation, lists capital projects and reservation system update
Summary
Director Susan Buxton told the committee IDPR manages 30 state parks, about 200 full‑time staff, roughly 7.1 million annual visitors, and contributes an estimated $1.3–$1.4 billion to Idaho's $5.6 billion outdoor recreation economy; she reviewed capital projects and said a new reservation system launched in 2025 supports dynamic pricing.
Susan Buxton, Director of the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation, presented statistics and an update on IDPR projects and operations. Buxton said IDPR "included 30 state parks" and that the agency's programs contributed an estimated $1.3 to $1.4 billion of Idaho's $5.6 billion outdoor recreation economy. She reported IDPR operates with about 200 full‑time employees and supports roughly 7.1 million visitors annually, managing 2,092 overnight campsites, 99 lodging facilities and 19,500 miles of recreational trails.
Buxton described recent capital work—restoration at Kokanee Cove in Ponderosa State Park, full renovation of Rocky Point Lodge at Heyburn State Park, reconstruction of Chatcolet Marina docks, upgrades at Priest Lake, replacement of Hell's Gate Marina in Lewiston, renovations at Eagle Island State Park, replacement of deteriorating docks at Crown Point on Lake Cascade, and rehabilitation on the Ashton‑Tetonia Trail. She noted IDPR launched an updated reservation system in 2025 that allows dynamic pricing to manage demand; Buxton said staff will be maintained but some hours or services may be reduced in response to anticipated budget cuts, and that current requests focus on federal cost‑share projects and partnerships.
