Park Service to seek new money sources

[Judi Lynn]

Park Service to seek new money sources
By MARY CLARE JALONICK, Associated Press Writer
10 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - The National Park Service's new director says the agency will increasingly look to outside sources for money to help maintain parks.

"We're much more business-savvy than we used to be," said Mary Bomar, a career employee who became director in October, in one of her first interviews as head of the agency.

"We're much more business-savvy than we used to be," said Mary Bomar, a career employee who became director in October, in one of her first interviews as head of the agency.

A Government Accountability Office report last year said the Park Service is increasingly cutting back on visitor services, education programs and protections for natural and cultural resources because funding has failed to keep pace with operating costs. The agency also has a huge maintenance backlog.

Bomar said the Park Service acknowledges it has challenges, including shrinking staff, aging facilities and a diminished visitor experience. Parks have also lost some of their relevancy and connections to younger generations, she said.
(snip/...)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070113/ap_on_go_ot/park_service_director

[Kutjara]

1. Here comes "Yosemiteland" and "Denaliworld."

Business and the preservation of wilderness don't mix. Inevitably, parks become themeparks and the evironment becomes just another experience to consume. All aboard the "Old Faithful Log Flume" ride!

[harpboy_ak]

5. Some of the tourons coming to Alaska already think it's a theme park.

(From passengers at Nenana rafting put-in) "Can I just leave my stuff here and pick it up when we come back around?"
"What time do the Northern Lights come on?"
A Juneau cabbie tells me a woman passenger asked him if they turn the waterfall on Mt. Juneau off at night.
(at a hatchery tour) "What time does the salmon run start?"
(at Denali National Park) "Where do they take the animals when the Park closes for winter?"

--- from the Alaska Dumb Tourist FAQ

Of course, most of these questions come from cruise ship passengers, and it seems that in order to take a cruise ship to Alaska you have to leave your brain at home. :silly:

The whole idea pisses me off. I pay taxes, and I want them to support National Parks with no admission fee (though I believe that they should charge a reasonable amount for campgrounds, instead of turning them over to vendors to turn into Motor Home Heaven.

Far better that my taxes go to National Parks (and I live near two, Glacier Bay and Klondike Historical) than down the Iraq rathole. Time to use the Dem majority to restore the funding the Bushies cut.

[Dover]

2. The neocons have purposely choked off funding in order to justify 'privatization' of parks

They hope to 'auction' it off.

[izzie]

3. I guess we will have to sell off every thing to keep Bush's wars going.

I guess born in the 30's I lived in the best times in the US. End of the great depression and the start of the 'third world' stage.

[pinniped]

4. F these Aholes.

What, they're not getting royalties from selling that stupid Noah's Flood BS book at the Grand Canyon bookstore?

I hope they don't F it up too much more with their reign of terror almost over.