Comments on: State parks to reduce access, services; eliminate more than 170 jobs

By: me

me — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 21:28:04 +0000

if everyone would get off their high horse and look around you would see that they arent closing all together . in fact some of them are hiring. especially since my husband has 3 interviews at 3 different state parks across the state for law enforcement. if it was that bad then they would have the money in the budget to hire new person and that included offering the person paid housing, state benifits and a truck to drive

By: RetLTC

RetLTC — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 17:47:22 +0000

This is really sad. I have enjoyed many outings to the parks in Ga. The golf courses are the best values and some of the most well maintained in the state. Just at a time when affordable recreation is needed the most comes this. I will pay the additional fees. Anything I can do to help keep these places alive will be my pleasure. It is a damn shame that our politicos place so little value on these treasures even in good times.

By: Misty

Misty — Sat, 30 May 2009 21:54:56 +0000

Very Sad – I agree. Wednesday was one of the saddest days in park history, and it sounds like it’s not over. But don’t lay the blame at DNR’s feet. The blame lies under the gold dome, and nowhere else. Our legislators didn’t want to look like the bad guys, naming which facilities needed to be closed or outsourced, so instead they simply slashed the Parks budget by 40%, leaving it to DNR to decide what to do with what’s left, causing DNR to look like the bad guys. They’re not. They’re trying to do the best they can with what little is left.

I have lots of friends who work in the parks. Many have given years and years of dedicated service, only to find out they’re either no longer needed, or being offered part time positions,, losing all benefits. The sad alternative is to close parks, which in many cases, would devastate the local economies of many rural towns. And anyone connected with the park system knows that, once a park is closed, the chances of it reopening are slim to none.

By: Very Sad

Very Sad — Fri, 29 May 2009 14:22:16 +0000

Wednesday will go down in the history books as one of the worst days in State Parks and Historic Sites history. I work for this organization and used to tell everyone how proud I was of Parks and Historic Sites. I was part of a huge wonderful family. I can no longer say that nor can I talk about having one of the best jobs in the state. You do not treat family this way. It’s shameful.

By: Another former DNR Employee

Another former DNR Employee — Fri, 29 May 2009 12:44:46 +0000

I appreciate the support of so many for DNR’s Parks and Historic Sites Division. What is not said is that one reason for the lack of economic success for the parks can be directly laid at the feet of state legislators. While it may seem desirable to have parks scattered throughout the state, in reality many parks have been established as “jobs programs” in various state representatives districts. These decisions are the result of our legislative process, not decisions by DNR.

Parks employees are generally underpaid, and most have a strong love of the environment. Park managers live on the parks – essentially taking on 7 x 24 responsibilities. This is not a “theoretical” 7 x 24, but any time there is trouble on the park they must be alerted.

The budget crisis is severe and will not be resolved quickly. Outsourcing is a farce — it is only a way of taking a politically sensitive issue and handing it off to someone else to either run lodges and/or golf courses into the ground or to raise costs beyond those that are politically feasible for the agency itself.

Hunters and anglers prepare. After Parks are sucked dry, you’ll be the next target.

By: Former State Worker

Former State Worker — Fri, 29 May 2009 11:07:34 +0000

Debo I agree with some of your points….. To many people have abused the parkpass system, believe me I used to be one of the ones to collect the money from the boxes. Empty envelopes and many cars in the parking lots without a pass. Then they would not enforce the rules and write tickets to the violators……………… Folks support your parks they are cheap and very accessible for you to enjoy……
As far as leaving the parks system, I chose to leave for a better opportunity at a better job that would lead to a better life. Not because I was cut or fired. As a matter of fact when I left the area manager tried numerous times to get me to stay. I have no problem as far as work ethic goes……..I worked my tail off for 10 years for the park system. That is a idiotic statement about someone you have no clue about………….. You obviously have not worked for the park system huh???? Those are some of the lowest paid jobs there are, yet most of the people who occupy those positions are hard workers and still get crapped on. Anyone who has worked in the system has seen good employees come and go because the lack of pay and advancement……..
RichardP thank you for your service it is appreciated…….. Charles did you ever think that you had a choice in which career path to take………. You chose to work at HomeDepot, nobody made you accept that position……. Just because someone got to work outside and you didn’t is no reason to make a stupid comment like that. I still have friends that work for the parks… I can arrange you a weekend of volunteer working with them and we’ll see who has the “real” job…………. I bet you don’t have to haul garabage off the park or be knee deep in sewage when a pipe bursts at 2am or be out on a trail looking for a lost kid in a driving rainstorm…… I could go on and on and on……..

By: quams

quams — Thu, 28 May 2009 22:58:52 +0000

I am a state employee for a park in georgia. I love my job! I am a
housekeeper. I take pride in everything I do. I do my best to make sure your cabins are spotless. What people do not understand in the cutbacks are the people that do not respect the parks. It takes alot of money to run a park. We have alot of people that do not respect the park or the
cottages they stay in. It takes alot of money to supply these cottages with linen and furniture. We often find the funiture broken, stolen, moved out doors. We receive no respect! People get drunk puke in our beds; let their children draw all over the walls, frankly shit on the floors, shit in the beds. What do you people want. All I hear is a bunch of people that have no repect what so ever for the park or the
people that work there. Frankly, I an sick and tired of drunk golfers, family reunuines and the rest of the people that steal everything and have no respect for the staff of a georgia state park. Also, a state park is not a resort, maybe if the state parks stopped suppling people with a full cottage of soap, toilet tissue, toweles ( that you tend to use to change or check your oil in your cars, whipe up your wine that does not come out, puke, piss, bleed, or anything else that
seems fitting for you. You steal, break and do not care about the people that have to clean up after you or your dogs. Speaking of your dogs – obey the rules! Do you think I like cleaning up after your dog
hair, dog piss, dog puke! Dogs are not allowed on the beds or furniture, they are not to be left alone at anytime in the cottage! Well, I guess no one person has to abide by the rules when it comes to your dog I guess it is ok! Sorry, that I may be complaining but I can
t understand that I have to loose my job because of a bunch people that rent cottages, campgrounds and just trash them.

By: Charles Boarden

Charles Boarden — Thu, 28 May 2009 22:17:17 +0000

Richard P,

You got paid for 19 years for something we all do for fun. Instead, I work in a lousy building all day long. Tough – now go find a real job.

Charles Boarden
charles_boarden@homedepot.com
Home Depot – Atlanta, GA

By: RichardP

RichardP — Thu, 28 May 2009 21:17:05 +0000

I am a 19 year employee of the state parks and was just told I do not have a job anymore on June 15. I have loved my job with the parks and am crushed as are my family members. Our parks are a treasure and it was a pleasure to work in them for so many years. Whatever you may think of state workers, a good many of us were proud to wear the uniform and represented the state well.

By: Rockhound

Rockhound — Thu, 28 May 2009 21:00:01 +0000

DebBo, Most rockhounds respect the environment and the natural beauty of our parks and have gladly paid any requested donation, such as parking fees. We would even be willing to pay a reasonable fee to collect. Our big problem, with what is going on is the sudden (no warning) reversal of established practice of the rangers. They went from encouraging the hobby to a Big Brother/Gestapo approach. This is due to the laws governing such land use are extremely vague and open to interpretation. We would support them cracking down on the few collectors that don’t practice environmentally sound collecting practices, but leave the ones that take care to eliminate the environmental impact of their collecting alone. As for there being nothing left to see, unless you are a fellow rockhound, you wouldn’t even notice the mineral samples that we collect, much less miss them. The samples that we collect are usually smaller than a thumbnail. If you have been to a park, chances are you have walked by a collection site and not even noticed it. Most people going to parks enjoy the trees, waterfalls, lakes, and etc. There is nothing wrong with that as I enjoy those things too. Rockhounds just choose to also look down. Mineral collecting has been going on since before the European settlers arrived. Guess what, there is still plenty to look at and do. We couldn’t possibly collect everything. Where would we put it?