Changes to National Park fees

westernrvparkowner wrote:

GordonThree wrote:
I'd be happy if they stopped trying to make the parks into tourist attractions. I thought the NPS charter is to preserve and protect land held in the public trust, not to exploit that land as a tourist attaction? More parks should be like Isle Royale, Wrangle St Elias and Gates of the Arctic. Very limited access, very little development for "tourist comfort."

Close the welcome centers, the gift shops, the bathrooms, and the extensive road networks. That will lighten the budget considerably.

How about they just make the rule that however YOU want to enjoy the park is the absolute maximum usage? Then again, maybe they make the rule that YOUR usage is too extreme and you are not allowed in.
The sign engraving on the Roosevelt arch at the original entrance to Yellowstone says "For the Benefit and Enjoyment of the People". Nowhere does does the mission of the National Park service say it was established to preserve and protect the land at the exclusion of the public.
Too many people think their way is the only way. The hikers think everyone else should stay away. Those traveling by horse or bicycle think cars should be forbidden. Car drivers think SUVs and Trucks are evil. The SUV drivers curse the RVs and so it goes. Good luck in enforcing your will on others.

nps.gov wrote:
This "Organic Act" states that "the Service thus established shall promote and regulate the use of the Federal areas known as national parks, monuments and reservations…by such means and measures as conform to the fundamental purpose of the said parks, monuments and reservations, which purpose is to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations."