Chesterfield outdoors program targeted for elimination

By now, I'm sure many in the Richmond region have a raging case of "budget-cut fatigue." The syndrome is particularly pronounced in Chesterfield County, where it seems every day brings a new headline about how dire the financial situation is and where shortfalls will be made up.

In situations like these, logic would seem to dictate, leaders will make it a priority to identify programs that offer outsized value for their cost and to find ways to keep them. Offerings that don't meet that standard will be considered very closely for cutting.

But if that's the most sensible model, it isn't being applied in the case of one Chesterfield program that has flown under the radar for years. Why?

The program in question is the county parks and recreation department's Outdoors Section. For 30 years, Chesterfield has offered countless opportunities for Central Virginians to learn about and enjoy the outdoors. Whitewater and flatwater kayaking classes, rock climbing instruction, hiking trips, sailing lessons, class trips for inner-city kids and much more. You name it; Chesterfield has offered it. Richmond has no Outdoors program. Henrico's is minimal.

"It's a unique program," said director Noel Losen. "We educate folks so they feel comfortable going outside. We introduce them to the river. We introduce them to trails."

In fiscal year 2009, with four full-time employees and three permanent part-timers, the section ran 578 programs. That's more than one a day, involving thousands of Virginians, from kids getting their first real chance to explore the outdoors, to seniors taking in the Dutch Gap Conservation Area. That's a lot of value.

Yet when the parks and rec department needed to close a $1.6 million budget gap for FY 2010, the call was made to axe the entire section.

"It was kind of out of the blue," said Greg Velzy, the section's adventure programmer. "We figured things would be scaled back, but to shutter the whole outdoor program . . . that was a real blindside."

Department Director Mike Golden said they expect to save $503,000 of that $1.6 million by closing the outdoors section and firing the staff, but he agreed that that number is misleading. Because each program pays for itself through user fees, the outdoors section actually costs the county $364,000 -- basically salaries and some overhead.

Golden said adult sports leagues also will be cut, as will half of the budget for senior programs. The latter item will save $250,000. Why not cut it all? That, coupled with raising program fees and making some cuts to the outdoors section, might make up the shortfall. Senior programs are worthy, but they serve a sliver of the county's residents. The outdoors programs are open to all, including seniors.

To figure out why the projected cuts came down the way they did, it's helpful to know that Golden doesn't make decisions in a vacuum.

"I got some general direction from the budget department. You might want to pass that [question] on up there," Golden said, when I asked who makes the final decision on budget cuts. "You've got to start somewhere; that's the hard part. But it's open for change depending on how the process goes."

Velzy argued that the outdoors section is operating from a disadvantage when it comes to influencing that process.

"It doesn't have the constituent base of something like a softball league or maybe seniors would," he said "What we do is educate people [and give them] the ability to go out on their own."

Golden agreed: "There's not an organized group to make their case."

But that doesn't mean there can't be. As Golden said, this hasn't been decided yet. The county Board of Supervisors votes on the budget April 14th. Before that, there are opportunities for citizens to tell their elected officials how they feel. On Thursday, for instance, the county's parks and recreation advisory council will meet.

"It's a political process," Golden said. "If the PRAC recommends 'put something back,' that carries some weight."

Then on March 24, the Board will hold a budget hearing. The public has the opportunity to comment at both meetings. And, of course, if you're a Chesterfield resident, you can call or e-mail your board member any time.

Contact Andy Thompson at