New Hampshire considering adopt-a-park program
The state of New Hampshire is asking for help in maintaining about half of its 71 state parks, because the state can't afford their upkeep.
The state has the only self-funded park system in the country and is currently operating with a loss of about $1 million dollars, according to the Associated Press.
State representative Jeffrey St. Cyr has filed legislation that would create a formal process for volunteers to take over maintenance and upkeep of some of the state's smaller, unprofitable parks. It is expected to be considered by the House next year.
The adopt-a-park program would work like adopt-a-highway programs throughout the country that use volunteers to pick up trash and debris along roadways. The highway program also uses small roadside signs to recognize the volunteers, which St. Cyr says he envisions as part of his proposed park program.
"Nothing would change about the park. It would just have an active volunteer or nonprofit group monitoring that park on a weekly or monthly basis," St. Cyr said.
The adopt-a-park volunteers would do things like clearing trails or hauling trash in an effort to keep these small parks operating without help from the cash-strapped state system.