Spearfish Canyon Volunteer Advisory Committee Application Deadline

PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) would like to remind interested citizens and organizations about the deadline for application to serve on the Volunteer Advisory Committee (VAC), as part of the proposed Spearfish Canyon State Park master planning efforts. The deadline is Jan. 18, 2017, at noon MDT.

Applications will be accepted from local residents and organizational representatives interested in serving on a Volunteer Advisory Committee to work alongside the project consultant and GFP staff. A total of up to 20 people will be selected and will represent a wide cross-section of groups and individuals.

“Serving on the Volunteer Advisory Committee is a hands-on opportunity for people interested in the Canyon to play a vital role in the master planning process,” stated Katie Ceroll, Director for the Division of Parks and Recreation. “We are looking for a diverse membership to meet with our consultant, staff and other interested citizens and organizational representatives to help identify issues and trends as well as develop recommendations based on their diverse perspectives, in consideration of resource needs, community desires, funding and other elements of the plan.”

Members of the committee will be expected to attend five meetings over the next eight months of the planning process, as well as the public information meetings. These members serve as an advisory group and not a decision-making body. Members will be expected to provide open and honest feedback on constituent and community concerns, to keep current on local and regional news, and seek to understand local, regional and park-related issues and provide feedback on those issues.

“Spearfish Canyon contains some of the most renowned natural, scenic and cultural resources in the country,” concluded Ceroll. “We want to ensure that the Governor’s vision for the creation of Spearfish Canyon State Park is met with public input, transparency and openness.”

Online applications are preferred and available at http://spearfishcanyon.sd.gov/publicinvolvement/default.aspx.

For more information, please contact Nancy Surprenant at 605.773.6671.