Public comments incorporated into Hot Springs State Park Master Plan

The State Park Master Plan Steering Committee met on Tuesday, June 30 with the goal of reviewing public comments and incorporating these comments into the draft preferred alternative plan.

Tina Bishop, project manager with landscape architectural consulting firm Mundus Bishop, presented a list of comments from the community gathered from public meetings, website entries, emails, letters, and “I Wish” notes.

These comments included a wide range of requests, some of which included: a sense of arrival when entering the state park, consistent architectural character, engagement for families and children, a discovery and nature center, promoting thermal water for health and wellness, use of potable water for more pools, consolidating water features, additional/updated lodging, year-round recreation, improvement of trails, zipline, disc golf course, water development for the terraces, river corridor development, fishing access, tent and RV camping, parking, natural spring pools at the bath house, and additional signage in and approaching town.  

Star Plunge business owners submitted their own comments for review regarding direct changes to the water park. These comments included adding a five-story hotel, indoor water and splash park, and tower of three slides.  

After reviewing all public comments, the steering committee reviewed the original vision and goals set for the park which were: protect and manage the water; provide recreational activities; upgrade and improve facilities; provide and encourage redevelopment to prioritize life, health, and safety; reestablish the cultural and natural legacy; build upon aesthetics and create a sense of arrival and connectivity; sustainable approach; and create opportunities for research.  

All public comments were taken into consideration for changes to the preferred alternative which were presented to the steering committee. These changes included: potential expansion at the county recreation area for active recreation; RV camping and tent camping along the Bighorn River and primitive tent camping on T Hill; additional parking at the Pioneer Home; improved overlooks in the bison pasture; gateway signage at the Park and Springview further east; natural trails to create connected loops; potential turn around and parking access at the school; and a fishing overlook on the west side of the Swinging Bridge.  

At the conclusion of the presentation, presenter Tina Bishop asked the steering committee to break into two working groups to review the new changes to the preferred alternative and discuss improvements, priorities, and additional changes to the plan.

Working groups were also asked to talk about creating and implementing standards and guidelines for all facilities within the park. The idea of acquiring additional park lands was also included in discussion.  

Recommendations from the steering committee working groups were brought back to Mundus Bishop for review and to incorporate into the new master plan. 

This master plan will be presented to the public for comment September 14. Public comments will again be reviewed after that time.

The Wyoming State Parks Commission plans to finalize and present the master plan by early 2016.