Idaho Reports · Idaho Public Television

Season 53 Episode 25: A Walk in the Park

·29 min·2 clips

Idaho state parks saw a 35% visitor surge during the pandemic, pushing capacity to its limits.

This episode of Idaho Reports focuses on recent investments and improvements within Idaho's state park system. Host Melissa Davlin interviews Susan Buxton, the Director of the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation, at Bruneau Dunes State Park. The conversation centers on managing record visitation and a significant infusion of state and federal funding. The Idaho legislature appropriated a total of $160 million over three fiscal years starting in 2022 for state park improvements, with $95 million from state surplus and $65 million from the American Rescue Plan Act. Buxton explains the department faced a deferred maintenance backlog approaching $200 million prior to this investment. Visitor numbers spiked by about 35% during the pandemic, surpassing seven million annual visitors to Idaho's 30 state parks. Specific projects include adding 300 parking spots at Bear Lake State Park, 30-35 truck-and-trailer spots at Farragut State Park, and a new, fully accessible observatory at Bruneau Dunes opened in June 2023. The department is also adding 250 new campsites, 25 day-use areas, and 150 docks or boat slips system-wide. A surprising solution to overcrowding at Bear Lake State Park was implementing an online reservation system for day-use parking to prevent long vehicle queues. The department also launched a new, more mobile-friendly campsite reservation system in January to replace a clunky older version. Buxton reveals the outdoor recreation industry in Idaho is worth about $4 billion, with state parks contributing over $1 billion of that economic benefit. The agency clears roughly 2,000 miles of trail annually on federal lands through a sticker-funded program that has operated for 30-40 years. A new "Foster Families in the Park" program, funded by donations, provides free park access and special event days for foster families. The episode has an educational and conversational tone, blending an on-location tour with a detailed policy interview. It is styled as a public affairs update, providing viewers with a progress report on state spending and infrastructure. This episode is ideal for Idaho residents interested in outdoor recreation, state government spending, or public land management. Listeners seeking hard political news or national commentary might find its focused, local scope less engaging.

As heard by us

A steady update on how Idaho's state parks are adapting to new demands.

Idaho Reports uses Bruno Dune State Park as a plainspoken backdrop for an update on Idaho State Parks, with Susan Buxton walking through record investments, deferred maintenance, newer RV power needs, Wi-Fi access, and school visits.

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Why you'd press play

How Idaho state parks are adapting to changing visitor expectations and heavier use.

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