Crisis in Our Parks

Our beautiful collection of National Parks is in trouble, ironic since these nearly 400 parks, monuments, seashores, battlefields, and historic sites are more popular than ever.

Haven’t heard the news? The system endured more than 420 million visitors in 2005, with forecasts to top that this year. An endless stream of visitors is just part of the problem. Caring for the system’s more than 80 million acres and their inhabitants takes talented people and the kind of provisions and facilities that can handle the proliferating droves. Unfortunately, one report estimates that due to budget cuts there is now only one park ranger for every 105,000 visitors. You needn’t a vivid imagination to guess what impact this staffing crisis is having. As one park administrator from the Grand Canyon recently lamented, “We’re dealing with 21st Century visitation with a 1950s infrastructure.” Things are bad all over.

At the heart of the matter is inadequate funding. The National Park Service (NPS) budget is shrinking as visitation is increasing. As such, there are fewer resources to service trails and roads, keep animals and plants secure, and provide the kinds of services (tours, recreation and education) befitting these wondrous locales. The National Parks Conservation Organization estimates the park system is operating at a shortfall of some $600 million per year. Meanwhile, the effects from pollution, swells of traffic, and the general wear and tear that accompanies all of us sightseers continue to eat into NPS coffers. Admission costs, still less than the price of a movie ticket in many cases, do not begin to properly address the situation.

In an effort to put a “face” to the crisis, the National Parks Conservation Association’s unveiled its annual list of America’s Ten Most Endangered National Parks. This is one list no site wants to be on. For these ten, the news is grim, with challenges ranging from dwindling animal populations to developers eager to take a slice. The question, as always, boils down to us. What are we willing to do about it? The number of recreation vehicles I see at these locations reassures me that as a group RVers care about these lands. We, as all Americans do, have a stake in this fight if we’re going to keep our National Parks the envy of the world.

Here are ten ways to make things better.

1. Purchase a National Parks Pass. At $50, it’s the deal of the century, granting free access to all sites within the system. It also gives the NPS a nice chunk of upfront revenue, with approximately 80 percent going to the parks themselves, split among the 387 sites. Buy one for a friend while you’re at it. Those over 62 years of age may opt for the Golden Passport, which is good for a lifetime. Call (888) GO-PARKS or visit www.nationalparks.org for details.

2. Lobby. Every politician talks a good game concerning the environment. How are your representatives acting on the subject? Contact legislators to make your feelings about the parks known. Passionate voters enjoy more power than they realize.

3. Volunteer. This is a particularly good idea for full-time RVers who might be looking for seasonal work. The NPS solicits help from more than 120,000 volunteers per year, and is looking for assistance in all sorts of ways. Who better to fill the need than you?

4. Donate. A $50 park pass is a nice start. But if you want your grandchildren to be able to take their grandchildren to the Everglades, the Smoky Mountains, or Dry Tortugas National Parks, for example, it’s going to take some extra giving. Think of it this way. What would you pay for a day at Disney World? Isn’t the Statue of Liberty, the Grand Tetons, or Fort Sumter worth that much? Visit www.nationalparks.org/Donate/Donate-WTG.shtml to learn how.

6. Caring and Respect. Be especially careful about how you treat our parks. Watch where you walk and drive. Don’t feed the animals. Put litter in its place. Obey signs and rules, especially concerning food and pets. Don’t take anything with you (rocks, plants, eggs) —except the wonderful memories of course. If we care about these lands, we must act like it.

7. Become an Advocate. Remember the shampoo commercial where, “I told two friends, and they told two friends, and so on and so on…” Well, the subject of the environment is equally contagious. Tell others about efforts to protect our environment and get them involved. Buy them a park pass while you’re at it.

8. Camp, Eat, Spend. What would be better than an Acadia National Park shot glass? A night’s worth of camping not only boosts park revenue but also is a unique experience for all. Eat inside the premises. Buy the T-shirt. Infuse the system with dollars.

9. Visit Parts Unknown. Since all parks dip from the same funds, lesser-visited parks are as endangered as the larger, more well-known versions. A smaller crowd is just one of the perks of venturing off the beaten track. Here are a couple of journeys to consider: the Apostle Islands (Lake Superior), Jewel Cave (South Dakota), and Dinosaur National Park (Colorado and Utah).

10. Join the National Parks Conservation Association. No one is more committed to our parks’ health than these folks. Donate as little as $15, which goes toward a host of lobbying and preservation efforts on park-lovers behalf. Visit www.npca.org for more information.

Ten Most Endangered National Parks for 2006
• Big Thicket National Preserve (Texas)
• Biscayne National Park (Florida)
• Everglades National Park (Florida)
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park (North Carolina/Tennessee)
• Joshua Tree National Park (California)
• Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (Arizona)
• Shenandoah National Park (Virginia)
• Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program (26 states and Washington, D.C.)
• Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve (Alaska)
• Yellowstone National Park (Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming).

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