Director Of Indiana DNR Discusses Passion & Logistics Ahead Of State Park Conference In French Lick
State Parks are a treasure trove of the natural system of the United States. While The National Parks are more a symbol of the nation as a whole, the aspect of the state park keys into that unique identity of the state in which it resides. Every year, the directors of the requisite states from across the nation converge to discuss, plan policy but also brainstorm and provide community in only a way a similar peer group can provide. For 2016, Indiana is hosting the State Park Directors annual conference in French Link. The Buzz sat down with Dan Bortner of Indiana Department Of Natural Resources to discuss evolution, passion and the nature of the system.
The Buzz: Can you speak to hosting the NASPD in Indiana and why it was important to do so?
Dan Bortner: We committed to the conference back in 2011 when the conference was held out in South Dakota. States generally want to host when they have something going on of major significance within their state. 2016 is the state of Indiana’s Bicentennial Year. The Indiana State Park system was a gift to Hoosiers on their 100th birthday so thus it is our 100th Anniversary and the State’s 200th. The last time Indiana hosted the conference was back with it was the National Conference On State Parks in 1923.
The Buzz: Can you talk about the perception of Indiana and what people expect from a natural perspective?
DB: We’re hoping to change people’s visual. So many folks around the country view Indiana as what they see when they are driving from Detroit to Chicago. What we want folks to leave here with is the idea that Indiana is a very diverse state geographically. The location we are holding the conference [French Lick] is in the southern part of the state. When you look at that topography and terrain, it is quite different from what you see in the glacial plains in the northern part. Folks have this image [of Indiana] as vast cornfields…and those do exist…but that is one small section. There is a lot of diversity across the state from a natural resources standpoint. We want to show that off a little bit.
The Buzz: Where did your love affair with Indiana start? Was it at a young age?
DB: The Indiana Department Of Natural Resources has a publication that they have had since very early on back in the 1930s called “Outdoor Indiana”. Today, that publication is still going strong. We have staff photographers that go out and take the pictures and such things. But back when I was growing up...I’m a baby boomer. I grew up in the 60s and early 70s. My father was a freelance photographer and back then “Outdoor Indiana” purchased their photographs from freelance photographers because they didn’t have staff photographers. My dad did a lot of work with them. We were in the state parks literally every weekend, throughout the year. I grew up in the Bedford area which is about 15 miles from Spring Mill State Park so I spent a lot of time there specifically [as well as] Turkey Run and various other properties in Indiana. Basically I grew up in these state parks. When I went off to college, I took a different route. I majored in public affairs. I graduated and went on to the private sector and spent the predominance of my career there until 2005 when I went to work for the Department of Natural Resources.
The Buzz: Can you talk about the uniqueness of this specific State Parks community...the aspect of these like minds getting together….learning…and listening?
DB: The issues that we face are shared issues. The challenges that we face are shared challenges. There is a very limited number of people that are serving in the roles that we serve in. We obviously have our federal partners…folks like that…but at the end of the day there is only 50 state park directors in this country. So you have 49 other people that have a lot of the same challenges that you have. And to be able to sit down once a year and be able to talk about what you’re doing and what’s working and what you need answers to…even if it is only for a very short period of time is completely valuable as an experience and is something I always look forward to. And, of course, it is always a constantly evolving group because changes happen. Each year when we get together there are new faces from retirements of people or those who are no longer with the organization. To be able to get together and create those new contacts is a great experience.
The Buzz: Can you talk about the balance of change...to keep what people like about state parks but also how to enhance the experience...not so much from a policy point of view but a practical approach.
DB: That is a very good question. I came from the private sector….when I got here one of the things I wanted to instill in my people was that I understand we can’t operate completely as a business…I get that...but we can operate on business principles. And while it’s true that we don’t make a product…we are in the “memory making business” . That is what we do. The reason that I am involved with this today is because the memories I have growing up around Indiana and the state parks and the beauty that is contained therein. And I think you get that from a lot of the other folks that are involved with this too . Indiana State Parks see 16 million visitors a year. Our goal is to reach every one of those visitors and to create memories naturally for those people so that not only will they take part in what we are doing but also their offspring in the future. If people fall in love with their parks and their properties and the things they are responsible for, then I know that those things will be taken care of in the future because you take care of what you love.
Tim Wassberg
A graduate of New York University's Tisch School Of The Arts with degrees in Film/TV Production & Film Criticism, Tim has written for magazines such as Moviemaker, Moving Pictures, Conde Nast Traveler UK and Casino Player. He enjoys traveling and distinct craft beers among other things.
Make Sure To Check Out:
Spring Mill State Park, where visitors can explore the park’s four interpretive facilities—the Pioneer Village, Nature Center, Grissom Memorial and Twin Caves Boat Tour—and see it reflected on the landscape as they hike the trails.