Cash-strapped state parks eye corporate sponsorships; NH hooks up with outdoor apparel company

State parks explore corporate sponsorship

CONCORD, N.H. — New Hampshire’s state park system is among several around the country reaching out to private companies for sponsorships of park facilities, programs or the systems as a whole.

Maine, Virginia and Georgia are among other states that either have or are looking into some kind of sponsorship to support state parks.

New Hampshire plans to partner with Eastern Mountain Sports, an outdoor apparel company. Details still are being worked out, but the intent is to have the company promote state parks in its stores in exchange for promotion of the company’s products at state parks.

Georgia has a marketing company looking into corporate sponsorships for not only parks but coastal and wildlife resources. Virginia is close to announcing a promotional partnership with another outdoor clothing company.