Fillable Printable Sample Business Plan
Fillable Printable Sample Business Plan
Sample Business Plan
Stewart Lake State Park
Business Plan
(Sample)
Submitted to:
Department of Natural Resources
Division of Parks and Recreation
Office of the Director
Prepared for the Director by:
Stewart Lake State Park Superintendent
and
Division of Parks and Recreation Budget Officer
Division of State Parks and Recreation
Department of Natural Resources
Division of Parks and Recreation July 2008
Acronyms and Abbreviations
CY calendar year
hp horsepower
IRR internal rate of return
NPV net present value
OHV off-highway vehicle
PV present value
ROI return on investment
RV recreational vehicle
Table of Contents
Page
Executive Summary/Introduction............................................................................1
Mission, Vision, Values, and Objectives..................................................................1
Mission...........................................................................................................1
Vision..............................................................................................................1
Values..............................................................................................................1
Objectives.......................................................................................................1
Park Description and Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats..............2
Description......................................................................................................2
Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats.......................................5
Summary..................................................................................................................7
Market Analysis.......................................................................................................7
Demographics.................................................................................................7
User Characteristics........................................................................................7
Market Trends.................................................................................................9
Market Needs/Demands..................................................................................9
Financial Analysis..................................................................................................11
Strategies, Work Plan, and Milestones Summary.........................................11
Financial Improvements................................................................................11
Success Monitoring......................................................................................13
Tables
Table Page
1 Stewart Lake State Park facilities and services...........................................3
2 Personnel plan..............................................................................................4
3 Stewart Lake State Park partners.................................................................5
4 Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.......................................6
5 Summary of demographic information........................................................7
6 Stewart Lake State Park...............................................................................8
7 Stewart Lake State Park market trends......................................................10
8 Strategies, work plans, and milestones......................................................12
9 Financial summary of proposed plan.........................................................13
10 Comparison of current and proposed plan.................................................14
11 Summary of annual funding sources.........................................................14
12 Summary of annual expenses....................................................................15
13 Performance measures...............................................................................15
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Figures
Figure Page
1 Map of Stewart Lake State Park..................................................................2
Attachment A Examples of project evaluations
CD/DVD with business plan template
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Executive Summary/Introduction
The purpose of the business plan is to assist park management and staff at Stewart Lake
State Park in making decisions regarding the management, operation, and development of
park resources. This plan focuses on the financial impacts of management decisions.
Information from this document will be used to inform State park management and State
legislators of financial impacts at Stewart Lake State Park.
Mission, Vision, Values, and Objectives
The mission, vision, values, and objectives of Stewart Lake State Park are as follows:
Mission
Enhance the quality of life through outdoor recreation, leisure, and educational
experiences.
Vision
Provide quality outdoor recreational experiences through camping, boating, fishing,
biking, hiking, and off-highway vehicle (OHV) trails.
Values
Value meeting customer needs; innovation; clean and well-maintained facilities;
preservation of natural surroundings and resources; affordable, safe, and accessible
recreational activities.
Objectives
1. Increase overnight camping revenue (number of visitors and nights
stayed)
2. Increase day-use revenues and visitation
3. Increase fishing activities and revenues
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Park Description and Strengths,
Weaknesses, Opportunities, and
Threats
Description
Stewart Lake State Park was established in 1972, 2 years after the Bureau of Reclamation
(Reclamation) built the reservoir as part of the Strawberry-Duchesne River Project. The
reservoir is located off of Highway 40, next to the city of Duchesne (population 5,000),
1½ hours east of Salt Lake City and 6 hours from Denver, Colorado. Highway 40 is a
main corridor from Denver to Salt Lake City. The reservoir has over 23 miles of sandy
shoreline and rests at approximately 5700 feet above sea level. Many of its formations
and geologic features are similar to Lake Powell, but with a shorter “warm season”
limiting peak visitation to the summer months (late June – early September).
Figure 1.—Map of Stewart Lake State Park.
The park provides for a variety of experiences with six campgrounds and open “boat
camping” on many of its shores. Table 1 summarizes the park facilities and services
currently available at the park.
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Stewart Lake State Park Business Plan
Table 1.—Stewart Lake State Park facilities and services
Feature/service Description
Mountain View Campground
30 developed campsites for recreational vehicles,
tent trailers, or other campers looking for full
hookups. Showers and flush toilets are provided.
Beach Campground
Designated for “tent campers” and is located on the
water’s edge near the main entrance and boat
launch. Showers and flush toilets are provided.
Indian Bay Campground
A primitive campground that allows boaters to park
their vehicles and boats at the water’s edge. Vault
toilets and community water sources are all that are
provided.
Rabbit Gulch
A primitive campground remotely located on the
west side of the reservoir. This is a popular spot for
boaters who can park their vehicles next to their
boats right on the water. Vault toilets and community
water sources are all that are provided.
Knight Hollow Campground
A primitive campground designated for OHV users.
The campground is located remotely from the main
entrance/campground at the northeast end of the
reservoir. Vault toilets and community water sources
are all that are provided.
Juniper Point Campground
A primitive but very secluded campground up on a
cliff overlooking the reservoir. Campsites are
dispersed among pinyon and juniper pine trees, with
only vault toilets and community water.
OHV trails
Currently, OHV trails are limited to approximately
15 acres within the park, but talks with the county
and other State agencies are taking place to connect
the park’s trails to an extensive trail system nearby.
Biking/hiking trails
There are many spectacular views along the
reservoir, but limited hiking and biking trails. Staff is
currently working with the city of Duchesne to link
the trail to downtown.
Boat camping – shoreline
Because of its vast “sandy” shoreline, boat camping
has become very popular with boaters along the
Wasatch Front. Stewart Lake State Park is seen by
staff as having the potential to become a “short
seasoned” Lake Powell.
Fishing
Stewart Lake State Park is known as a premiere
location for walleye fishing, with professional
tournaments being held there every year. Ice fishing
is also becoming more popular.
Boating activities
Wake boarding, water skiing, pleasure boating, and
wave runners are very popular during the summer
months.
Overnight group-use area
Accommodates up to 50 people and includes a
pavilion, barbecue grills, and vault toilets.
Amenities
Showers, restrooms, waste disposal, picnic tables
(day use), boat launching.
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Stewart Lake State Park Business Plan
Stewart Lake State Park is staffed by full-time, seasonal, and volunteer employees.
Table 2 outlines the park’s staffing plan.
Table 2.—Personnel plan
Position Primary duties
Period
(CY07)
1
Period
(CY08)
Period
(CY09)
Park Manager
$58,000
Oversees all operations
Budgeting and purchasing
Financial reporting
Law enforcement
Boating patrol and emergency response
Facility maintenance
Jan-Dec Jan-Dec Jan-Dec
Park/Waterway
Supervisor
$45,000
Assists Park Manager with administrative
duties
Law enforcement
Boating patrol and emergency response
Facility maintenance
Jan-Dec Jan-Dec Jan-Dec
Park Ranger
$42,000
Law enforcement
Boating patrol and emergency response
Facility maintenance
Jan-Dec Jan-Dec Jan-Dec
Deputy Park
Ranger
$25,000
Law Enforcement
Boating patrol and emergency response
Jan-Dec Jan-Dec Jan-Dec
Camp Host
This is a volunteer position. Duties include
collecting camping fees and maintaining
campgrounds, day-use areas, and restrooms.
May-
Sep
May-
Sep
May-
Sep
Park Ranger Aide
$12,000
Full-time seasonal who primarily helps with
park maintenance and manning the entrance
station.
Apr-Oct Apr-Oct Apr-Oct
Park Ranger Aide
$12,000
Planned to be used to help maintain increased
use of Knight Hollow (OHV users) and Rabbit
Gulch depending on available funding and trail
development.
Apr-Oct Apr-Oct
Park Ranger Aide
$12,000
An additional seasonal to help maintain
expanded campgrounds and facilities. Will be
funded with revenue collections.
Apr-Oct
1
CY = calendar year.
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Stewart Lake State Park Business Plan
Stewart Lake State Park has identified several “partners” or other organizations with a
mutual interest in the park’s operation and success. Table 3 specifies existing and
potential partners and their roles in the operation and improvement of the park.
Table 3.—Stewart Lake State Park partners
Partner Potential or existing role
Reclamation
Governing agency
Planning and design
Funding participant for new development
National Guard
Horizontal work - building roads, boat storage, etc.
“Vertical” work (i.e., electrical, plumbing) on
bathrooms and other structures being renovated or
constructed
City of Duchesne
Partially fund and build walking/biking trail from
downtown to park trails
County of Duchesne
Work with landowners and other agencies to
connect Stewart Lake State Park OHV trails with
other trail systems
Local OHV associations
Work with county and park staff to connect
Stewart Lake State Park OHV trails with other trail
systems
Friends of Stewart Lake State Park
Perform fundraising for specific projects
Lobby elected officials for critical issues and
funding
Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats
Table 4 lists the current strengths and weaknesses of Stewart Lake State Park as well as
potential opportunities and threats to its operations.
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Stewart Lake State Park Business Plan
Table 4.—Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats
Strengths Weaknesses
1. Large water surface area.
2. 23+ miles of sandy shoreline.
3. Variety of camping experiences
(primitive, developed, beach, OHV,
etc.).
4. Within 2-hour drive Wasatch Front.
5. Scenic views and geologic formations.
6. Close proximity to city.
7. Located off main highway between
Denver and Salt Lake City.
1. Short “warm season” – June through
September.
2. Aging facilities.
3. Undersized developed campgrounds.
Too small for newer recreational
vehicles.
4. Lacking adequate hookups for
recreational vehicles.
5. Limited OHV and hiking/biking trails.
6. Lack of on-site boat storage.
7. Limited staff to cover large area.
Enforcement and collections issues.
8. No protected docks/marina.
9. No on-site fuel stations.
Opportunities Threats
1. Growing recreational vehicle market in
spite of gas prices.
2. More retirees traveling.
3. Growing interest in non-motorized
sports.
4. Partners (Reclamation, city, county,
National Guard, etc.) with vested
interest in developing park trails and
facilities.
5. Potential “Friends” group.
6. Higher gas prices. Incentive for in-
State travelers along Wasatch Front to
travel closer to home. May pickup part
of Lake Powell market.
1. Lack of funding for new facilities and
maintenance (materials and labor).
2. Utility costs.
3. Keeping up with inflation and rising
construction costs.
4. State funding – unpredictability.
5. Higher gas prices. Out-of-State
travelers not as likely to travel to the
State.
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Stewart Lake State Park Business Plan
Summary
Stewart Lake’s competitive edge is its large water surface area with 23+ miles of
shoreline within 2 hours of a major population area. The area needs to accommodate a
broad range of recreation opportunities to attract users with different expectations. The
mix of uses, associated facilities, and management capabilities have to be financially
sound.
Market Analysis
Stewart Lake State Park’s primary customers are boaters form the Wasatch Front area and
anglers throughout the State and neighboring States. Current demand is primarily
for improved access and regress for boats and improved facilities (hookups, docks,
camping, etc.).
Demographics
The makeup of the population that recreates at Stewart Lake State Park is identified in
table 5.
Table 5.—Summary of demographic information
Demographic Local State National International
Population 1,932,967 2,550,063 296,410,404 6,451,392,455
Average age 28.4 28.5 36.4 26.9
Income $74,078 $47,934 $46,242 N/A
Male 50.1% 50.1% 49% 50.4%
Female 49.9% 49.9% 51% 49.6%
User Characteristics
The Division of Parks and Recreation has identified the following users or target markets
currently served by the park’s facilities and programs in table 6.
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