by Tom Hohman and John Goss, IPA Advocacy Chairs

The benefits of state parks and nature preserves in providing access to nature and an escape from the stresses of the modern world are well known and understood. What is often not recognized is the economic benefits these properties bring to our state.   

Based on a Division of State Parks user survey conducted in late 2024 and early 2025, state park visitors spend between $191 million and $344 million dollars each year in nearby communities. This spending includes between $32 million and $58 million from outside the state of Indiana. This has a huge impact on local economies, and can be used as the basis for growth of those economies. 

IPA has proposed to Governor Braun that his next budget include an economic development initiative for rural areas of Indiana, based on investment in public lands for outdoor recreation. The proposed initiative would include:

  1. Investments in state parks, including:
    1. Funding for deferred maintenance to improve visitor experience and extend the life of existing facilities.
    1. Improvements to campground facilities to better serve modern campers and increase revenue.
    1. Improvements to nature centers to better serve families, and help connect kids with nature.
    1. Improvements to hiking trails, the most heavily used facilities in state parks.
  2. Funding for Next Level Trails to help connect communities throughout Indiana.
  3. Improvements in access to state owned nature preserves where such access will not compromise preservation of the rare ecosystems which they protect.  While their prime purpose is preservation of these natural areas, they are extremely popular with hikers who want a natural, less crowded experience.
  4. Funding for purchase of additional natural areas to expand public hunting and fishing opportunities.

Part of this initiative should include embracing the reality that public lands need staff to manage them. This is true of developed lands, such as state parks, where staff are needed to maintain facilities and provide services that visitors expect, as well as natural lands, where staff are needed to manage invasive species and improve habitat for hunting and fishing opportunities. Lack of staffing at state park interpretive centers results in wasted opportunities to connect children with nature, denying them the recognized benefits for their development into well rounded adults capable of thriving in the modern world.

IPA believes that an economic development proposal such as this would be well received by conservationists in Indiana. The initiative would also be well received by residents of the rural areas where these properties are located. Many local tourism and chamber of commerce organizations have been very supportive of our past efforts to increase funding for the DNR properties near their communities, recognizing the economic benefits they bring.  While we have not yet received feedback from Governor Braun, we will continue to advocate for this proposal, and inclusion of at least parts of it in the state’s next biennial budget. See the letter IPA sent and send your own support to the Governor and your state legislators through a personal call, e-mail, or letter.