Sad state of our National Parks-II

monkey44 wrote:
I'd like to see this remain open to discuss the conditions of the parks. If we begin taking political pot-shots at individuals, we're aiming at 'closed' topic.

I've been camping and visiting national parks for too many years to count - well, don't want to count - and many are degrading due to crowds and due to visitors treating wildlife like a petting zoo.

Education of our visitors is paramount to our parks remaining a viable resource for watershed and wildlife habitats. Please educate yourself, and others, particularly visitors from other nations. It's on US to save the parks and the wilderness areas they protect. WE own the parks, not the Feds, not the States, not the Vendors.

Thank you for brining back sanity and sobriety on the topic.

Indeed when I OP's this topic, I am armed with my personal observations, spoken with rangers in the field and the budget numbers where the current government proposed a 7% decrease but, on the latest official numbers, the cut turned out to be actually bigger.

I am always optimistic but the above facts caused me to be otherwise.

In fiscal management principles, you need 2% additional funding matched with inflation rate just to stay in place and in a glide path.

Rangers are providing education to the new generation how to appreciate, preserve and love the environment. And the enforcements of park regulations both for safety and prevent further destructions of facilities. Fortunately, most people and campers like us are not usually the problem. And yet, those critical staffing are also part of the cut, never filled up and causing the exodus of personnel.

Volunteering and outside assistance from environment organization simply cannot fill up the gap. Privatizing some popular and profit-making operations might have exacerbated the situation with loft sided development and focus on the former and the neglect on service and no-fee facilities.

I have written my senator, my representative and made added donations to my environment-outdoors org. The senator and my representative assured me of their efforts and assistance in this regard. But as I said, I did not even get a form letter both the Interiror-NPS whose has responsibilities over our national parks.

It appears I cannot also get help from members of this forum despite the possible benefits they will get out of a well maintained campgrounds.

So I just have to keep pressing in somewhere.