Naturalist to be hired for the season to host Sibley State Park programs

NEW LONDON - A park naturalist will again be leading programs at Sibley State Park this summer season.
The park is currently considering applicants for a seasonal naturalist position at the park, according to Gary Bullemer, assistant manager of the park.
The naturalist position has been vacant since the retirement of Dick Clayton in December. A budget shortfall in the Parks and Trails Division of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources had led to the decision to leave the post vacant.
The Legislature approved a bill that includes some supplemental funding to help the Parks and Trails Division with the budget shortfall in the second year of the biennium. There is hope that the supplemental funding may help make it possible to restore the naturalist position to a year-round one, he added.