Post by Admin on Nov 24, 2018 11:21:50 GMT -7
Crisis in our National Parks?
A Forum reader and contributor recently shared an article with us that was published by the UK Guardian. The article discusses how various US National Parks are experiencing record visitation and the effects upon the parks. Well worn and mostly discarded solutions are discussed like limiting the number of people who can visit the parks. All taxpayers fund the National Parks and thus have a right to visit at a time of their choosing. The parks belong to the people; not bureaucrats in the government.
Once the Guardian article moves out of that stale territory it becomes more interesting. The cell phone generation members that are always in search of awesome places to take photos of themselves are discussed as one reason so many pristine and picturesque spots have become overcrowded. Towards the end of the article a solution presented by the local folks of Page, Arizona caught our attention.
The Forum often winter camps in the desert southwest and has noticed how the states, the laboratories of democracy,have responded to and competed for tourist dollars by improving their natural resources. State parks in Arizona and Nevada offer exceptional services that many national parks do not. Many campsites have 30 and 50 amp electricity, running water and sewage disposal. Campsites can be reserved online and discounts are offered for multi-week stays. Hiking trails, boat ramps and picnic areas are common. Large pavilions can be rented out to groups and weddings are frequently scheduled in state parks. Restrooms are often well appointed with private hot showers and changing areas. One park we visited even had a free lending library.
Once the Guardian article moves out of that stale territory it becomes more interesting. The cell phone generation members that are always in search of awesome places to take photos of themselves are discussed as one reason so many pristine and picturesque spots have become overcrowded. Towards the end of the article a solution presented by the local folks of Page, Arizona caught our attention.
The Forum often winter camps in the desert southwest and has noticed how the states, the laboratories of democracy,have responded to and competed for tourist dollars by improving their natural resources. State parks in Arizona and Nevada offer exceptional services that many national parks do not. Many campsites have 30 and 50 amp electricity, running water and sewage disposal. Campsites can be reserved online and discounts are offered for multi-week stays. Hiking trails, boat ramps and picnic areas are common. Large pavilions can be rented out to groups and weddings are frequently scheduled in state parks. Restrooms are often well appointed with private hot showers and changing areas. One park we visited even had a free lending library.
State parks understand that visitors want to see and experience natural beauty. Thus they carefully design camping areas and facilities to blend in with the environment and reduce the impact of visitors. In the Guardian article mention is made of the parking problems at Glacier National Park. Even though park attendance has doubled and tripled the summit parking lot has remained the same size for 25 years or more. At our last visit the lot had several empty spaces close to the visitor center. Every empty spot was reserved for park employees though. Visitors, many who were also US taxpayers, had to circle the lot and wait for someone to leave. It is a safe bet that no employee or administrator would see a need to expand the parking lot to accommodate more taxpaying visitors. Instead visitors are told to park 3 miles down the road and take the shuttle.
National parks have been slow to meet the needs of visitors but some are starting to listen. Yellowstone has greatly improved it's road network over the past decade. Originally built for horse buggies the narrow and twisting roads are now safe for modern cars, RV's and trucks. Wide shoulders allow for safer pull offs by animal watching tourists.
We hope you enjoy the thought provoking Guardian article. Please leave comments below.
National parks have been slow to meet the needs of visitors but some are starting to listen. Yellowstone has greatly improved it's road network over the past decade. Originally built for horse buggies the narrow and twisting roads are now safe for modern cars, RV's and trucks. Wide shoulders allow for safer pull offs by animal watching tourists.
We hope you enjoy the thought provoking Guardian article. Please leave comments below.