From Deseret News archives:
Perking up our national parks
According to a coalition of government retirees, they are; at least the parts set aside as national parks. A band of National Park Service retirees says an infusion of $600 million annually is needed to help perk up the parks and put more money into services and supplies for visitors. The plan isn't just a tune-up but an overhaul. And according to the group, the whole park system including the five parks in Utah face a funding crisis.
The retirees would like to see air and water issues more fully addressed, would like to see creeping privatization handled better and would like a special commission to oversee governmental efforts.
The scope of the request is startling.
But then, according to a series of stories being published by the Deseret Morning News, so are the concerns.
But that experience does not account for upkeep.
According to Deseret Morning News findings, three of every four parks have reported budgetary cuts recently. And cuts came at some of the most prominent and popular parks: Yosemite, the Grand Canyon, the Great Smoky Mountains and Shenandoah. Parks that did have funding increases shuttled the money for the most part into security concerns.
In Utah, 10 of 13 parks had budget cuts. The government claims that when other programs are factored in, nine Utah parks actually had funding hikes. Most of that, however, went to pay increases. At Capitol Reef, 98 percent of the budget goes to personnel, with 2 percent going to supplies and support.
Yet, if there is no silver lining to the problem, there have been some silver threads. Parks are now allowed to put 80 percent of entrance fees toward improvements, which means better facilities. And park rangers and other officials again like educators have found imaginative and clever ways to enhance the national parks on their own.
The people who are in the trenches, it seems, are getting the job done.
But to do that job better, more money and tighter oversight may be required.
If America is to remain America the Beautiful, it is vital that legislators and national leaders make sure our natural wonders remain the gems they are, and that politics do nothing to tarnish their brilliance.
Comments
- Sports on the air 12:28 a.m.
- 3A football: Wasatch vs. Juan Diego 12:24 a.m.
- Obama salutes slain 12:21 a.m.
- Old warriors: Nursing home for vets 12:19 a.m.
- 4A preview: Springville vs. Dixie 12:10 a.m.
- PCC: A 'flop that flipped' 12:04 a.m.
- Mormon Media Observer 12:04 a.m.
- Toning up spiritual muscles 12:04 a.m.
- Joseph and Hyrum, true gentlemen 12:04 a.m.
- Today in the Bloggernacle 12:04 a.m.
- Utah group finds homes for orphans
- Pratt pleads not guilty to sex charges
- Y. tight ends talented tandem
- Jazz blow big lead, hang on
- Utes get extra motivation
- Senators want food tax restored
- Hair-pulling raises more questions
- Lobo land like home for BYU lineman
- BYU soccer incident still popular
- U. hopes to keep clicking
- House passes health care bill
263 - TCU showdown has big implications
188 - Lobo suspended
185 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
155 - Senators want food tax restored
149 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
131 - TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd
119 - No 'backlash' for pioneers, gays analogy
105 - S.L. vote pending on gay protections
104 - Utes pound winless Lobos
89
Maybe someone out there can help me understand how raising the state...
So are you saying that women's soccor should evolve into this type of...
The Church has never been about hating gays, or any other group. It has only...
To which I add Amen, and Amen! [Thank you!]
this is going to so much fun? Gee who do i cheer for if REAL plays Galaxy? ...
The great QBs make defenses pay for bringing pressure. Hall offers up...
I completely concur, this exhibition game was supposed to be easy and a blow...
Maybe we should just back up 50 years and do away with all laws etc. passed...
So does Hall enjoy absorbing the contact as Call says, or in Hall's own...
Well put, let it die. A lot people who want the health care bill haven't...
If Jerry studies "game tape" he will see how to beat the Celtics, see Phoenix...



You can be the first to comment on this story.