BATON ROUGE (AP) — Gov. John Bel Edwards has signed legislation that supporters hope will drive more private money into Louisiana's state parks system.
The Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, overseen by the lieutenant governor, will be able to sell naming rights to parks and historic sites or grant leases to add new attractions.
Louisiana's parks and historic sites don't draw enough visitors or deep-pocketed donors to stay afloat without state subsidies. Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser is searching for financing streams to drive more money into the recreational sites.
Nungesser envisions public-private partnerships that could add a hotel, conference center, zip lines, horse stables and canoe rentals at various parks around the state.
The new law, sponsored by Houma Sen. Norby Chabert, takes effect immediately.
