HUTCHINSON — Kansas park officials are tallying up the economic hit that many of the state’s 28 parks absorbed because of heavy rains and flooding this spring.
Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Secretary Brad Loveless says losses from damage and closures caused by the rains could be substantial. The agency relies chiefly on entrance permits, campsite and cabin rental fees, and marina concessions to fund state parks.
The Hutchinson News reports that the agency’s park fee fund dropped about $100,000 in April and May, mostly due to a loss of entrance and campsite fees. Income from cabin rentals was down about $30,000 from a year ago.
Agency spokesman Ron Kaufman says those figures don’t include refunds the department is processing.
