Perking up our national parks

Most people are concerned about the nation's infrastructure crumbling and coming apart. But what about the country's natural sites? Are they, too, becoming dilapidated?

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.

Like the school system, the park system can quickly become a political football. And — like the school system — the parks rely on employees who feel a vocation for their work, people who are dedicated to something grander than a paycheck. Given the need for funding espoused by national park retirees, in fact, America's landscape attractions have an impressive record. Some 96 percent of visitors say they have a positive experience at the parks.

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.