Corps parks in jeopardy

The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers recently addressed a rumor that had been circulating about the possible closing of some Corps-managed parks on Norfork and Bull Shoals lakes. But the news was not very reassuring.
The rumor suggested that several Corps parks that were flooded this past spring were not going to be repaired and that the Corps is studying a list of parks that includes Tecumseh and Udall on Norfork Lake and Theodosia on Bull Shoals Lake for possible closure. All three parks were totally immersed this past spring after record rainfall pushed the lakes to the top flood pool and beyond.
Corps spokesman P.J. Spaul told the Ozark County Times that his agency is looking at everything in their budget to try and slash spending. According to Spaul, every Corps-managed park within the Little Rock (Ark.) District is under the microscope.
Spaul said President Obama's budget request for fiscal year 2012 may include a Corps operating and maintenance budget reduction to the tune of $17 million. "We won't be able to make any final decisions until those numbers come in," Spaul said.
According to Spaul, record flooding this past spring caused $33.5 million in damage to Corps parks and facilities in the Little Rock District. "Prior to the floods we had a maintenance backlog of $65 million," Spaul said. "Those are things that we needed to do maintenance-wise to our parks but didn't have the money for. With all that in mind, there's just not going to be enough money to go around."
Spaul did say that no decisions about any parks had been made at this point, and that he couldn't pinpoint any particular parks that were at risk.
"We're looking at everything, not just recreation," Spaul said. "We're prioritizing our must-do's, things we're required by law to do, our need-to-do's and our like-to-do's."
Spaul said some of the possibilities would be to close parks that are "less efficient or less-used." He wouldn't say if any local parks fit those categories.
"We're looking at other options too," Spaul said. Those options could include reaching agreements with local governments to take over some or all functions of operating specific parks. Other cost-cutting possibilities might include mowing the parks and hauling off trash less often.
In years past, when the Corps had proposed closing area parks, including Tecumseh and Udall, an outcry during a public comment period swayed the Corps to leave the parks open. Spaul said he doubted if there would be time for a public comment period this time.

<p>The Tecumseh park is flooded this past spring in this file
photo. All Corps of Engineer parks within the Little Rock, Ark.,
district are being studied and some will likely close due to budget
shortcomings, officials have said.</p>