[cogitator]

I hate to say it, but I think the answer is to substantially raise user fees for major parks (which would slightly reduce the user pressures on them) and to distribute the funds around the Park Service.

[SGCOS]

Of course, diverting billions from Congressional Pork spending into our National Parks wouldn't help.

[scholar]

...the answer is to substantially raise user fees for major parks ...

I guess I have to agree. I live close to the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. In the summer, the beach looks like one giant ashtray because of inconsiderate smokers dumping butts. I can't imagine why anyone would want to lay on the beach, it's so ugly. I read one year that the park service removed 2 TON of cigarette butts--this has got to cost some major $$.

I am a smoker but I find no excuse for this.

[Calculus_of_Consent]

I just took my kids camping at Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky. The park was beautiful, well maintained and patrolled regularly by rangers. The cost for camping and touring the caves was minimal. I would have been willing to pay twice as much.

Now the souvenirs my kids forced me to buy were outrageous.

[jimt]

As the National Park Service has largely been taken over by enviro-nazis as opposed to conservationists, I'd like to see a thorough and independent audit before additional funding. Of course NPS would NEVER overload themselves with bureaucrats, consultants and "studies" while neglecting maintenance. No, never, of course!

[T. P. Pole]

Remember, this is the normal method of government agencies. I think it is Rush who calls it the Washington Monument effect. When there is a threat of them not getting an increase in funding, they react by closing the highest visible piece of their department.

Last year when they didn't get a large of an increase in the roads budget, the highway folks here in Wisconsin didn't cut bonuses, or put off building a bikepath along a interstate highway bridge, instead, they closed the rest stops.

[Tiger28]

i agree! in addition to raising the admission price- they should make sure they collect from everybody- as someone who has been to many national parks i would say almost half the time there is no ranger on duty at the entrance

[.38sw]

So there isn't enough money to properly maintain the National Parks. Then why is the Federal Government creating more National Monuments, which cost money to administer and maintain, and purchasing more private land?

[countrydummy]

I totally disagree! This would not allow so many to enjoy the lands, they simply could not afford to do so! Instead STOP FURTHER Land Acquistions and do it NOW!

If the NPS does not have the funds to take care of what it already owns, then stop their push to take and take more private lands for more parks! Let it be so until all of our now National Parks are brought up to the standards they should be, were there is enough service personal to take care of the already owned lands, and where this maintainence will be maintained!

[RightWhale]

Close the parks.

[ladyinred]

They raised the price of entering the national parks by tons already! In fact, some families can't even afford to take their kids! We pay enough in taxes to pay for the parks, it is the fact that they spend so much money on environmental issues that are ridiculous that keeps them below the budget!
Living by Yosemite Nat'l Park my entire life and watching the tree huggers ruin the place for us makes this a sore subject with me!
They have spent a fortune keeping us out, while screaming at the same time that they are losing money because we don't come!