Dr. John Crompton, Story of the American Bison

Dakota Midday - 04/26/2012

Dakota Midday is hosted by Karl Gehrke in Vermillion, SD.

Doug Hawes-Davis is the director of Facing the Storm: Story of the American Bison, which asks the question, "Can we let bison be bison?"  It premieres on the series Independent Lens tonight on SDPB-TV at 11pm Central; 10.  Once brought to the brink of extinction bison have survived, but a myriad of political factors keep their status as truly wild animals in question.  Much like the old divide between ranchers and sheepherders that fueled the plots of Western movies, those who support cattle ranching are at odds with Native Americans, conservationists, park rangers and others who would like to see the bison roam. 

Friends of Rapid City Parks, with co-sponsorship by the Rapid City Department of Parks and Recreation, has invited Dr. John Crompton, University Distinguished Professor, Regents Professor, and Presidential Professor for Teaching Excellence in the Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences at Texas A&M to speak on the value of Rapid City's parkland to real estate, economic development, tourism and community well-being.  Crompton describes legal instruments, land use planning and other tools that cities have used to protect and preserve open space.  Crompton has written extensively on the impact of greenways on property values, the public value of parks and open space, and the financing of public leisure and tourism services.  

Click here for .mp3 (mobile device)

Get the Flash Player to see this video.