Town council hears about HSSP plan

by Mark Dykes

The Thermopolis Town Council received information regarding the Hot Springs State Park Master Plan from Director of State Parks and Cultural Resources Darin Westby.

“It’s been a long process,” Westby said, noting it’s been about two years. “It’s a different type of plan then we’re normally used to doing, with it being so community driven and community involved, which is great. I think it really drove a lot of great decisions at the park and moving this thing forward.”

Overall, the intent of the plan is to ensure diligence with the Big Spring, and that the water is being put to the most beneficial use. Westby said he and Hot Springs State Park Director Kevin Skates will be working with the State Engineer’s Office to that end. “I want to make sure we’re turning over every rock we can,” Westby said, “to make sure that we’re doing our due diligence.”

Westby said they are also trying to be mission-driven in making the park an economic driver, not only for the community but also the county and the state.

Westby explained how the plan came about, beginning with a steering committee of community-driven people that represented different aspects, which put together a repot of recommendations consisting of eight or nine goals. In moving forward to public meetings, the focus was on how to achieve those goals. Public comment was also collected, which helped to craft the final plan. Westby’s hopeful the plan is something the community “can really wrap their arms around.”

Some money has been set aside to tackle the “low-hanging fruit” of the plan, and get some projects off the ground. While many things with the plan will not be visible, Westby wants to get moving on projects that are tangible to the public so they can see the plan is being taken seriously.

The overall price tag is pretty steep, and not everything is going to happen overnight. Westby said Skates is going to have to fight for funding on parts of the plan.

Councilmember John Dorman Sr. asked if there would be major changes to the park entrance and concessionaires that are already there. Westby said there’s not a lot that could be done with the underpass entrance, but noted one of the items addressed would be beautification to provide visitors with a sense of arrival when they come. As for concessionaires, he said the plan is to sit down with the two that don’t have contracts, and try to develop a mutual vision for their properties; this will likely be done at the local level with Skates.

Mayor Mike Mortimore said he would like for people to have a place to swim, but of more importance is the restoration of the terraces. He recalled when a person could reach in and grab a handful of mineral “pearls.”

Skates noted he has been here for 10 years, working closely with Westby and those who came before him, and there has been about $7 million put into projects for the park in that time. “We are willing to spend some money if it needs to be done,” he said. Skates further pointed out the park is in the town of Thermopolis, so people have ownership in it, and everyone watches it and makes sure everything’s working.

Westby’s philosophy is that Skates is the superintendent, the boss for the park. He often gets calls that he refers back to Skates, as he is the one to handle the day-to-day items. “He’s invested in this community, he’s invested in this state and I know he’s going to do and make the right decisions.”

Westby wants the understanding that the State Parks department is not trying to get rich out here. Rather, they are trying to make sound business negotiations and stay ahead of consumers’ desires, what will draw them here. He said it’s interesting to see not only this plan, but where the whole program of improvement is going. Recreation may seem like stagnant business, he added, it’s important to stay cutting-edge.

“Not everybody pulls a seven-foot trailer anymore,” Westby said. “Not everyone wants to go camping by themselves in the middle of nowhere.” He’s hopeful people understand the plan is part of staying on top of consumer wants and needs, and State Parks department understands just how deeply Hot Springs State Park impacts the community.