Plotting a new course: Crater Lake superintendent Chuck Lundy to
retire next year
Herald and News
Klamath Falls, Oregon
November 12, 2007
By LEE JUILLERAT
H&N Regional Editor
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Chuck Lundy will retire in January after nine years as
Crater Lake National Park superintendent. H&N photo by
Lee Juillerat |
The Chuck Lundy years at Crater Lake National Park were defined
by the park's 100-year celebration.
Lundy,
who will retire in January after nine years as park
superintendent, termed Crater Lake's Centennial celebration the
"launching pad" for several projects, including special Crater
Lake license plates and the lake's appearance on the Oregon
quarter.
Along
with raising the park's profile, Centennial spin-offs raised
funds. The park received about $2.3 million from the license
plate sales, which helped fund the start-up of the Crater Lake
Learning and Science Center.
Education
The
Crater Lake Trust, created as a philanthropic organization to
generate long-term revenue for the park, led to Class-room at
Crater Lake, an educational program for students and teachers in
Southern Oregon. The Trust also is projected to help raise
upwards of $2.5 million toward construction of a $6-million
visitor center.
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The park's future
Whoever becomes Crater Lake National
Park's next superintendent will likely be starting off
with improved finances. President Bush's proposed 2008
budget calls for substantial increases in National Park
Service funding, including $900,000 at Crater Lake.
Outgoing Superintendent Chuck Lundy said
that money would be used to hire 14 interpretive and
maintenance seasonal rangers, a new permanent law
enforcement ranger and more natural resource rangers
Lundy believes a new superintendent
should consider forging stronger relationships between
the park and state, including efforts to have the Oregon
Department of Transportation assist park crews with an
earlier opening of the park's North Entrance Road.
"Once the North Entrance is open, it is a
real economic impact, especially for the gateway
communities," he says.
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Lundy
also promoted increased rolls for the Crater Lake Natural
History Association, which provides financial aid and staffing
at visitor contact stations; Friends of Crater Lake, which
provide volunteers for a range of park projects; and the Crater
Lake Ski Patrol, volunteers who patrol the park's snow-covered
trails during winter.
He
also credits the cooperation of Klamath County commissioners,
Oregon Institute of Technology, Southern Oregon University, Rep.
Greg Walden, who he calls a "great champion of Crater Lake," and
Sen. Gordon Smith.
"Out
of the Centennial was developed and expanded partnerships with
our neighbors and our congressional delegation."
"It's
been about accomplishing some great things to benefit the park
and the visitors," he says.
During
his tenure, Rim Village underwent a facelift, historic Munson
Valley buildings were converted into a dorm and offices for the
science and learning center, and a new restaurant was built or
online for construction, but he says the groundwork is laid for
what he sees as the next superintendent's major task.
"It
borders as incomprehensible that America's sixth oldest national
park does not have a legitimate visitor center," he said, "I
think we've done as much as we can to get some momentum."
Optimism
He's
optimistic about the park's future, in part because of it's
value to Oregonians.
"The
sense of ownership Oregonians have, their love affair with this
park, has me feeling good about the park," Lundy says. "This
park creates a lot of great memories, whether you're a visitor
or work here. It's an incredibly unique place that's not
duplicated anywhere in the world."
