Final Hot Springs State Park Master Plan public meeting sparks passionate debate

The third and final public meeting regarding the upcoming Hot Springs State Park Master Plan Draft sparked passionate debate between Thermopolis residents on Monday night.

The meeting, held at the Thermopolis Fire Hall, was attended by tens of Hot Springs County residents and was the last public forum in which invested members of the community could gather to voice their opinion regarding the formation of the first Hot Springs Master Plan in nearly three decades.

This Master Plan, when eventually presented to the State Parks Commission on November 2, will dictate a “grand vision” for 20 years for Hot Springs State Park, including the preservation of cultural and historic resources, developing new recreational opportunities for families and active adults, improving individual facilities and streamlining park operations.

Possibly the most important aspect of the forthcoming Master Plan is the protection of what one Hot Springs State Park (HSSP) calls the “lifeblood of the park and region”: the hot mineral waters.

The meeting began with Tina Bishop of Mundus Bishop landscape architectural firm from Denver, Colo., giving an overview of the results of the last two public meetings. Among the provisions listed above, the draft calls for the reestablishment of the cultural and natural legacy of the HSSP by restoring the park core, natural river corridor, and key social and historical features; building upon the aesthetics of the HSSP’s historical and iconic features; following a sustainable approach to the improvement and management of park space and facilities; and creating opportunities for research throughout the park, whether archeological, historical, or natural.

The most important details of the draft after the steering committee and public input include both preservation of mineral water in the area and the development of the west bank of the Bighorn River.

Bishop noted that studies of the mineral water aquifer that feed the state bathhouse and other concessionaire attractions in the park must be completed to determine future water usage as well as the substitution of potable water for future water-related attractions such as a possible ‘lazy river’ or additional ‘play areas’.

The development of the banks of the Bighorn River, which Bishop called the “central spine” of the HSSP, was also a high priority for the steering committee, the general public and Bishop Mundus. Additional recreational space along the north east side of the Bighorn, including a riverwalk and river overlooks, will be complimented by development of “natural, open space” on the west side of the river, which could possibly feature a visitor orientation center and expanded walking and hiking trails.

After Bishop’s presentation wrapped up, the open house portion of the meeting allowed community members to voice their concerns about the project in the form of written notes as well as addressing their concerns directly with figures involved in the formation of the plan itself.

Almost as soon as the open house portion of the meeting began, Bishop was approached by local business owner Paul Galovich with a concern that formed the basis of both positive and negative feedback about the plan thus far: money.

Galovich was concerned that cost analysis of the project and a budgetary plan of proposed changes have not been carried out. “You don’t come up with grandiose plans unless you know how much money you have to work with,” he said.

Galovich added that his experience as a local business owner taught him that, “it is difficult to give an opinion without cost analysis.” Galovich would have liked to see a structured plan with a budget before planning commenced, and was displeased that a budgetary plan and cost analysis would only be available later in the planning process.

Another local business owner who asked not to be named in this article was also worried about money. However, he was worried that without new development of HSSP, local business owners would not have enough of it to stay afloat.

“I’ve been here since 1956,” he said. “All this town has is tourists. You have to put money in [to the park] to stay afloat.” Noting the number of tourists that pass through Thermopolis on the way to or from Yellowstone National Park, he said the park needs new attraction to draw in the money necessary to get tourists to stop and spend money in town. “You got to have people from the tourists,” he concluded.

Some members of the audience, however, were more moderate in their opinions. Still concerned with state money, one anonymous community member wrote, “Fix what has to be fixed, keep up all existing facilities, and then stop.” Another anonymous community member added an “amen” below the comment in agreement.

“Wyoming is the best democracy in the world,” said Dudley Gardner, State Parks, Historic Sites and Trails commissioner from Rock Springs after witnessing discussion during the open house. “They would never do anything that everyone was opposed to.”