Reader comments
National park leaders dream at Snowbird

"The challenge facing the National Park Service is to keep pace with the modern needs of Americans while conserving what needs to remain timeless,"

And here is the major problem for all to see. The NPS is supposed to preserve the parks, but they are hellbent on changing them into little cities with full amnenities, which hardly qualifies as preservation.

Witness the multimillion dollar visitor center at Old Faithful, and realize that the NPS doesn't have a clue how to take care of the park, only how to tear things down, and build more expensive places. If that doesn't convince, go to the newest city in Yellowstone, and marvel at the ridiculous buildings at Canyons. Of course, you can't get to the base of Tower Falls because they don't have the money and desire to fix the trail, and many boardwalks are falling apart.

When the NPS figures out its job, then something good can be done, which means, our Parks are doomed, because the NPS is among the stupider government subsidiaries.

Why does our entire government run deep in the red, but the parks have to be profitable or they shut things down, and close off areas?

John has it some-what right.
I`m retired from the NPS. Fact is NPS park managers I.E. Superintendents are, for the most part back-slapping politicans. They live in their cloistered world of green and gray. They make a BUNCH of money,and are viewed by the public as saints.
These guys are ruining out treasures by complete managerial failure. I dare the general public to look into the incompetance run rampent at the National Park Service.

RE John's comment:

The new, beautiful visitor center at Old Faithful is being built and funded by the non-profit Yellowstone Association. It is run by public minded citizens, not the National Park Service. I belong to them and you can too! You will have the satisfaction of helping improve Yellowstone, plus a 15% discount at their stores, a monthly newsletter, and a nice little joining gift if you join at one of their facilities in Yellowstone.

Note: The new visitor center at Canyon and the visitor center/repository/ library at Gardiner were also built and/or restored by the Yellowstone Association.

Mike disliked the NPS so much he stayed long enough to retire.

The National Park System is largely what the American people want it to be. Parks become parks because the people's elected representatives (Congress & the President) decide they should be and all the construction projects and other programs are funded because they decide they should be. Ultimately if you don't like the result, blame the people responsible -- the America people who vote as well as those who don't even bother. That's how we got eight years of our current President.

signed "Not a NPS Superintendent"

The Superintendents I know sure are NOT back slapping politicians. I know probably 30 of them. They are public servants who , for the most part, had to work as seasonals with no benefits until they were hired permanently, then work through the ranks, moving frequently, working weekends and holidays. They were maintenance workers, law enforcement officers and trail hiking interpreters. They sure do not make allot of money over the course of their careers in comparison to other professions. They do love their parks. Their will always be bitter folks pointing fingers but really, its a tough job and they have big hearts. There are always some who are better then others but I don't think its fair to just lump them all together and refer to them in such a disparaging way. I hope they are encouraged to keep making things better. I appreciate them.