100 Years of State Parks in Idaho

“Celebrate our Past, Experience our Future”

Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation (IDPR) Mission:

“To improve the quality of life in Idaho through outdoor recreation and resource stewardship.”

We are innovators in outdoor recreation, committed to excellent service and resource stewardship. Idaho’s State Parks and staff foster experiences that renew the human spirit and promote community vitality.

Agency Goals:

In the fast-paced age of techno-gadgetry, where do natural, outdoor experiences fit in? And how do we keep our children healthy and active? This is a serious issue faced not only by Idaho, but the nation. One of our goals as an agency is to reintroduce Idaho’s youth to the wonder of the outdoors and the plethora of experiences that await them just beyond their homes. Our agency encourages Idaho families and visitors alike to enjoy all the recreational resources and outdoor activities available in Idaho’s state parks, forests and waterways.

We hope to generate new awareness during our  Centennial Celebration that includes an informational campaign and special interpretive programs created specifically for Idaho’s youth. We’re buying ads, hosting events and taking our message on the road with the goal of reaching Idaho 4th graders with our special message.

Our State Park System and Centennial:

Idaho has 30 beautiful state parks and recreational trail ways that service over 2.5 million visitors annually. Both campers and day-use customers alike choose Idaho’s State Parks for the experiences that the parks promote and the benefits that they have to offer.

In 2008, Idaho will celebrate the centennial of its first state park, Heyburn State Park located in Plummer, Idaho. To commemorate the occasion, we’ve planned a multi-year promotional campaign that includes two-years of statewide programs and events with a special celebration at every Idaho State Park on July 12, 2008.

The vision of the Idaho State Parks Centennial is to celebrate the rich legacy of Idaho’s State Park system and to engage the public by providing a myriad of opportunities to come together, to learn and to appreciate each park’s magnificent heritage. Through historical, cultural, educational, and community based events and activities, the multi-year celebration will encourage all to cherish Idaho’s history through state parks, celebrating our past, embracing the present and preparing for the future.

Celebration Goals:

• Create exciting opportunities for visitors to participate in historical, cultural, educational, and community based events and activities that celebrate Idaho through Idaho’s State Parks

• Highlight the history and uniqueness of each state park

• Showcase state park improvements and future developments

• Generate an appreciation for natural resources

• Bring awareness to the diversity of Idaho’s State Parks

• Promote active, healthy lifestyles through outdoor experiences

• Sustain a multi-year promotional campaign to accomplish the above listed goals