We are often reminded that West Virginia leads the nation in many misery categories. However, our renowned state park system has long been recognized as a national leader in preserving and protecting our natural beauty and doubtless serves to enhance our state's image. That is why I was shocked to learn the Legislature passed House Bill 4567, which, if signed by the governor, will provide for the construction of up to 100 privately owned housing units within the boundaries of Stonewall Jackson Lake State Park.

This legislation is so nebulous that said construction may well include private homes as well as time-share condominiums. Ostensibly the purpose of the legislation is to generate additional income for Stonewall Jackson Lake State Park's development and management contractor McCabe-Henley.

The detrimental impacts to Stonewall Jackson and our entire state park system should be considered.

The West Virginia State Park System was founded 80 years ago to preserve and protect areas of exceptional scenic, scientific and historic significance and to provide public recreation. In fact, this mantra has been considered so important that the director of the Division of Natural Resources is required, by code, to maintain state park lands in as natural a state as possible. The development of private housing seems to be contrary to this stated mission. Since the park system was founded, each succeeding administration has adhered to this charge and has practiced their stewardship responsibilities with due diligence. It is unthinkable that anyone would suddenly scuttle this public covenant by allowing private dwellings on our park lands, which are considered by many to be sacrosanct.

Throughout the history of the state park system, it has also been understood that there should be no lands or developments that would deprive any visitor of the full enjoyment of the natural beauty of the park. It has also been held that lodges and cabins are desirable to enable visitors to obtain full and satisfactory enjoyment of the parks. Such facilities, however, are to be considered solely as an essential means of serving and accommodating those who visit parks to enjoy the natural environment and not as private dwellings.

I have heard discussions of including such a private development program in our other state parks. It is likely, therefore, if this program goes forth at Stonewall, it will metastasize system-wide and will ultimately result in the citizens of West Virginia losing control of much, if not all, of their state park lands to private development.

At no time have parklands been considered for real estate development to be used by the privileged and well-to-do. The proposed private development of the facilities plus needed infrastructure will leave a footprint that will significantly reduce the amount of property available for recreation and natural preservation. Moreover, as the aforementioned nabobs build on parks, they will demand control of the park to the detriment of the public.

When Stonewall Jackson Lake was in the planning stage, it became obvious that the lake alone would not create a cost benefit ratio sufficient to justify the building of the dam.

Therefore, recreation was factored into the cost benefit ratio in order to cause the project to become economically feasible. Several hundred additional acres were purchased for the project solely for recreation. I recall visiting the potential recreation sites on several occasions with other DNR and Parks and Recreation employees and

We are often reminded that West Virginia leads the nation in many misery categories. However, our renowned state park system has long been recognized as a national leader in preserving and protecting our natural beauty and doubtless serves to enhance our state's image. That is why I was shocked to learn the Legislature passed House Bill 4567, which, if signed by the governor, will provide for the construction of up to 100 privately owned housing units within the boundaries of Stonewall Jackson Lake State Park.

This legislation is so nebulous that said construction may well include private homes as well as time-share condominiums. Ostensibly the purpose of the legislation is to generate additional income for Stonewall Jackson Lake State Park's development and management contractor McCabe-Henley.

The detrimental impacts to Stonewall Jackson and our entire state park system should be considered.

The West Virginia State Park System was founded 80 years ago to preserve and protect areas of exceptional scenic, scientific and historic significance and to provide public recreation. In fact, this mantra has been considered so important that the director of the Division of Natural Resources is required, by code, to maintain state park lands in as natural a state as possible. The development of private housing seems to be contrary to this stated mission. Since the park system was founded, each succeeding administration has adhered to this charge and has practiced their stewardship responsibilities with due diligence. It is unthinkable that anyone would suddenly scuttle this public covenant by allowing private dwellings on our park lands, which are considered by many to be sacrosanct.

Throughout the history of the state park system, it has also been understood that there should be no lands or developments that would deprive any visitor of the full enjoyment of the natural beauty of the park. It has also been held that lodges and cabins are desirable to enable visitors to obtain full and satisfactory enjoyment of the parks. Such facilities, however, are to be considered solely as an essential means of serving and accommodating those who visit parks to enjoy the natural environment and not as private dwellings.

I have heard discussions of including such a private development program in our other state parks. It is likely, therefore, if this program goes forth at Stonewall, it will metastasize system-wide and will ultimately result in the citizens of West Virginia losing control of much, if not all, of their state park lands to private development.

At no time have parklands been considered for real estate development to be used by the privileged and well-to-do. The proposed private development of the facilities plus needed infrastructure will leave a footprint that will significantly reduce the amount of property available for recreation and natural preservation. Moreover, as the aforementioned nabobs build on parks, they will demand control of the park to the detriment of the public.

When Stonewall Jackson Lake was in the planning stage, it became obvious that the lake alone would not create a cost benefit ratio sufficient to justify the building of the dam.

Therefore, recreation was factored into the cost benefit ratio in order to cause the project to become economically feasible. Several hundred additional acres were purchased for the project solely for recreation. I recall visiting the potential recreation sites on several occasions with other DNR and Parks and Recreation employees and

on other occasions with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers employees and local officials. Because the land considered for purchase was acquired through imminent domain, local citizens who were losing their homes and land were extremely upset. I remember looking into their eyes and seeing the hurt and helplessness they were feeling. Their loss was great and their pain was felt by all, but somehow, to a degree, the pain I felt for them was assuaged by the knowledge that their land would become a state park that would remain protected in perpetuity for the enjoyment of all. Obviously to condemn land for worthwhile public purpose and then utilize it for a private purpose is duplicitous, heartless and a breach of public trust if not actually illegal.

I have to wonder why private overnight facilities would be considered at Stonewall, given the fact that lodge and cabin occupancy rates for the year 2007 were both under 50 percent and that occupancy of both remained more or less static since the first year of operation. I am also concerned that the contract between the state and developer required the developer to build 100 additional campsites and 5 additional cabins. The date for completion of these facilities has long passed and the developer is now in contract default.

The lodge rooms and cabins that have been built are of a fine quality, and the golf course is stunning. All facilities built by, developed and operated by Benchmark, under a contract with the project developer, are well maintained and services are excellent. Certainly the project has fulfilled expectations in regard to creation of jobs. However, it is not even close to meeting projected occupancies and income.

From what I have seen and heard, the number of rounds played on the golf course are also well below projection. I do hear from friends and longtime park supporters from time to time about their latest visits to various parks; comments relative to Stonewall are almost always very positive regarding facilities and services. However, almost to a person, visitors complain that prices are far too high. Another common complaint is that the golf course is simply too time-consuming and expensive to be enjoyable on a regular basis.

Campers are the most vociferous complainers. They believe they have been lied to in regard to new campsites that were supposed to have been built, and they seem to have the opinion that they are not wanted nor appreciated and that Stonewall is solely for the wealthy. The construction of private homes and condominiums on the park will only exacerbate this notion.

It is common knowledge that the developer-manager is in default in bond payments for investors who financed much of the present development of Stonewall. It puzzles me how, in view of current low occupancy rates, additional overnight facilities will garner sufficient monies to appreciably improve the financial situation and enable the project developer-manager to service the debt.

Additionally, it should be noted that the management contract is for a 15-year period which began in 2000. Bond payments continue after that well until sometime in the mid-2020s, when around 2025 a balloon payment at several times the current rate will be due.

The facilities required by contract that have not been built need to constructed posthaste. The business plans need to be revised in order to bring income in line with projections, and perhaps consideration should be given to adjusting prices and fees so that they are more affordable to provide a greater occupancy rate, which should lead to increased revenues.

Hudkins, of Scott Depot, retired as chief of the state park system in 2000.