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Recent Research and Commentary

Saving California State Parks through Public-Private Partnerships

June 1, 2013, 2:23pm

Leonard Gilroy

Last weekend, the Orange County Register ran an op-ed of mine making the case for more privatization in California State Parks. I say "more" because last year the state turned over the operation of dozens of its state parks to private, nonprofits—as well as another handful to private, for-profit recreation management companies—to avoid the closure of these parks, keeping them open for public enjoyment.

Public-Private Partnerships Could Save State Parks

Privatization won't ruin California's state parks, in fact the private sector may be needed to save them

May 31, 2013

Leonard Gilroy

A recent report from the Little Hoover Commission recommends paring back the agency and devolving some of its key functions—most notably, the operation of parks themselves—to third parties. It calls for a new operating model that includes expanding the role of outside partners in the direct operation and management of state parks. These outside partners would include other governments, nonprofits, and for-profit companies.

How to Avoid Closing Washington State Parks

May 17, 2013, 1:57pm

Leonard Gilroy

Many thanks to the Washington Policy Center for publishing my legislative memo today on how to avoid the closure of dozens of Washington State parks, as Gov. Inslee has proposed if his tax increase package fails to advance

Rethinking Washington State Parks: How to Avoid Governor Inslee’s Plan to Close 60 State Parks

Antiquated, top-down management model is unsustainable; private sector can play major role

May 17, 2013

Leonard Gilroy

The century-old, top-down model of state parks operated and managed by state parks agencies is not sustainable and needs to be replaced by an approach in which the parks agency sets the mission for the parks system and then serves as a coordinator to arrange the right blend of public and private sector operators on a park-by-park basis.

New at Reason: Looking Back at the Last Year in Local Government Privatization

May 6, 2013, 4:25pm

Leonard Gilroy

The rollout of Reason Foundation's Annual Privatization Report 2013 continues today with the release of the Local Government Privatization section, which which provides an overview of the latest on privatization and public-private partnerships in local government.

Finding New Ways to Provide Parks and Recreation Amenities

Subsection of Annual Privatization Report 2013: Local Government Privatization

May 6, 2013

Harris Kenny

This subsection of Reason Foundation's Annual Privatization Report 2013: Local Government Privatization reviews new ways to provide parks and recreation amenities through privatization.

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