When were our National Parks privatized???

[housewolf]

I'm watching the White House Christmas Tree Lighting on PBS, and the first guy introduced was the President & CEO of the National Park Foundation, and HE intriduced Ken Salazar, the Secretary of the Interior.

I don't understand... I thought our National Parks belonged to all of us, not some foundation...

[hughee99]

1. I don't think they were, the National Park Service runs them

I think the National Park Foundation is a private company that Congress created (chartered) and their job is to promote the national parks.

[dflprincess]

2. The NPF tries to raise money to support the partks

http://www.nationalparks.org/about/

For over forty years, private philanthropy has been helping to improve, preserve and protect America’s National Parks. For over forty years, and without federal appropriations, the National Park Foundation–chartered by Congress as the only national charitable partner of America’s National Parks–has sustained this legacy of private philanthropy.

The mission of the National Park Foundation is to strengthen the connection between the American people and their National Parks by raising private funds, making strategic grants, creating innovative partnerships and increasing public awareness.

[bluestateguy]

3. I wasn't aware that they were

When I was in Philadelphia earlier this year, everything was free and all the park rangers were public employees (and very professional too).

[sandnsea]

4. It's a non-profit charitable partner

chartered by Congress to raise funds, and they also assist in programs that aren't directly sponsored by the park service, like the tree lighting.

http://www.nationalparks.org/about/

[housewolf]

5. Thanks, everybody

Glad I have all of you to give me the straight story.

[WhiteTara]

6. chimpy gave them away during his reign. n/t

[SharonAnn]

7. Reagan started the disinvestment in national parks.

[WhiteTara]

10. I'm not surprised...James Watt equated a

parking lot with a national forest and stated that trees produced more carbon dioxide than cars. Bozo noted if you saw one christmas tree, you had seen them all.

[Ernesto]

8. Took my gang to Yellowstone when I retired a few years ago....

VERY VERY bum trip. The whole place had been privatized. (except for Rangers(I think)

[joeybee12]

9. In 1994, when Repukes took over, they WANTED to privitize the parks...

...yes, indeedy, let's all take the kids to Disney's Yellowstone!