Economic group pushes for national park

Blaine and Butte County commissioners are working to get Congress to pass Legislation that would make the Craters of The Moon National Monument a national park.

“We’re trying to get local support, starting with grass roots educational efforts. We can let people know what we’re doing, why we’re doing it and how it can affect them,” said Butte Co. Commissioner Rose Bernal.

Monument chief of interpretation and education, Ted Stout, said upgrades to trails, camp grounds, museum exhibits and expanding the visitors center the park services more than 200,000 visitors each year. Officials said the change could increase the number of tourists by 30 percent.

“Parks are very well marketed in atlases and you can find them on the Internet, there’s books about them,” said Bernal. “We have a lot to offer in our area, but people don’t really realize it. They don’t know what there is here to do. Hopefully we can utilize the national attention to put a spotlight on what we have to offer, highlight it, and catch people to stop here.”

The national monument isn’t taking a position on the change, although, the change would not require any changes in management, funding, park fees or boundary lines.

“We manage this area exactly the same as Yellowstone and Yosemite or Grand Canyon national parks,” said Stout.

County commissioners, the Butte Chamber of Commerce and economic revitalization committees will be meeting with legislators in Boise next week. Legislators, like Sen. Mike Crapo(R-District 2), said officials must get support from the community before they make a decision to lobby Congress.

Legislation has to be passed by Congress and signed by the president before the national market can be named as a national park.