Locator: 48670NATIONALPARKS.
To tell the truth (and I always do) I didn't expect this when I clicked on the article in The New York Times after seeing the headline.
Here's the headline and the lede:
The writer is advocating for more federal support, not less, so that even more visitors can show up and national parks.
And then this: how reduced federal funding will impact national parks:
By April, the effects of reduced staffing reportedly had been felt. Arches National Park in Utah had terminated some of its ranger-led tours. Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument in Colorado had closed on Mondays and Tuesdays for lack of staff. Pinnacles National Park in California had canceled its summer ranger programs. Great Smoky Mountains National Park had closed several campground and picnic areas. And the list went on.
It seems to me, one wants to use strongest arguments possible when arguing for one's position.
But in this case, number one on the list: with Trump cuts, "Arches National Park in Utah had terminated some of its ranger-led tours.
For the record, I've been going to federal and state parks like forever, and not once have I required, desired, or participated in a ranger-led tour. Not entirely true, I suppose. I was probably part of some ranger-led tour when I traveled with my family, but I honestly can't recall.
Number two on the list: Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument in Colorado. Until this moment I had never even heard of FFBNM, and now it was closed Mondays and Tuesdays for lack of staff. OMG. Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Most national parks were closed for a full two years just a few years ago due to Covid.
Number three on the list: Pinnacles National Park in California had canceled its summer ranger programs. Like FFBNM, I had not heard of Pinnacles -- vaguely it seems I recall that name but can't find it on a map. [For the record, the park is about an hour south of Gilroy, off US Highway 101.] For the record, I've been going to federal and state parks like forever, and not once have I required, desired, or participated in a summer ranger program.
I'll quit there but I think you get the point.
If this is the worst that the Trump cuts will have on the National Park system, I think we will do just fine. I have no idea how the loss of these programs will result in the "end of America's national parks as intimated by the headline. Wow.
On another note, all of these programs would be better served by self-supporting non-federal funded programs, both for the parks and for the visitors.
"Blaming everything" on Trump -- it gets tedious.
