Posted on 04/24/2015 2:43:07 PM PDT by ThethoughtsofGreg
Every year, millions of Americans frequent our state and national parks. In 2013, tourists, families and outdoor enthusiasts made an estimated 720 million visits to state parks and 726 million visits to national parks.
National Park Week is an opportune time to focus on how to best preserve our parks for future generations. Across the country, tight government budgets leave little money for preserving and maintaining public parks. With increasing operational costs, privatizing certain park concessions can help provide a sustainable funding structure for these beloved areas.
Funding shortfalls have caused states to close or significantly reduce services in state parks. Admissions fees alone cannot cover operational costs and backlogs in maintenance are frequent. A 2010 report by the National Park Service found that states had identified $18.5 billion in unfunded needs for parks and recreation and, according to the Reason Foundation, that same year the California State Parks System accumulated more than $1 billion in deferred repairs and maintenance alone. Similarly, Washington state parks face $40 million in maintenance backlogs, despite being home to the fourth most popular park system in the nation.
(Excerpt) Read more at americanlegislator.org ...
Here’s a potentially unpopular opinion — the Federal government owns way too much land, parks included.
It is long past time to start selling off Federal land and using the proceeds to retire debt.
I believe that was supposed to be the intention from the beginning. I've been doing a lot of research on the issue - FedGov was only entrusted as caretaker long enough to get the land sold off to intrepid homesteaders. This is why the American Dream is dead. Used to be that you could find a remote spot, stake your claim, improve it and eventually purchase it from FedGov for $5 an acre. That all ended in the 70's when Congress ended the homestead act. Since then, FedGov control of public lands - OUR lands - has gotten downright ignorant.
Federal Parks should all go to the state it lies in along with any drilling rights, mining rights etc. including the profits.
Put trails in for "firebreaks".
The Federal Government is part of the problem.
There's a shocker, huh?
Cut the outrageous government salaries.
1976 when Congress enacted FLPMA(Federal Lands Policy and Management Act)
What repairs and maintenance do they need on parks that costs so much? Campgrounds charge fees that cover that. Many parks charge a small per-vehicle or per-person fee when you enter the park for a picnic or day on the lake. Outside of the campsites, playgrounds, and grills, what could they possibly be spending all this money on? Public pensions?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.