Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019 | midnight
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In reaching the conclusion that America’s national parks suffer from “inadequate and outmoded visitor infrastructure” and need more funding, a Trump administration advisory committee couldn’t have been more correct.
In recommending improvements, though, the group was way off base.
The group’s approach largely involves giving the private sector a bigger foothold in the parks and letting businesses upsell to visitors. The vision includes food trucks, Amazon delivery service at campgrounds, equipment rentals, Wi-Fi access and what sound like high-end accommodations.
Another recommendation includes doing away with the senior discount during “peak season periods” such as holidays.
That’s the wrong approach. The real answer is to again start treating the parks as the national treasures they are, and publicly fund them accordingly so that the park experience will be better for all visitors.
The park system has been starved to the point it is now facing a maintenance backlog of more than $11 billion. And yet President Donald Trump wants to cut it even further, recommending a 14% reduction in National Park Service funding in his proposed budget.
The system is among several government resources, such as air traffic control and the Postal Service, that Trump set out to privatize. He further wants to take the approach to operation of airports, freeways and other infrastructure.
Trump’s objective is reflected in the makeup of the parks advisory group, whose formal name is the Made in America Outdoor Recreation Advisory Committee. Its members include a representative from the National Park Hospitality Association, which represents private companies that provide services in the parks through contracts with the government, as well as the founder of Bass Pro Shops and the CEO of Kampgrounds of America. There are no conservationists on the board, nor any members of groups who oppose using the parks for profit.
The park service has taken no action on the committee’s recommendations.
But here’s a suggestion: Put the proposal on a shelf and never look at it again.
Americans and international visitors deserve to enjoy the parks regardless of their income levels. Enhancing the experience for the wealthy while leaving the basic amenities to rot disadvantages those with less means and makes the parks less attractive for them.
Plus, the wealthy can already experience the parks in luxury if they choose to do so, through posh packages offered by tourist companies or by renting a big recreational vehicle and stuffing it with gourmet food and pricey beverages.
Meanwhile, giving the private sector a bigger presence in the parks would create some worrisome implications. These areas should be operated as public resources to be protected for future generations, not marketplaces to be exploited for profit. In a distressing sign, it’s been reported that the advisory group is requesting to “sidestep environmental impact reviews for campground expansion and development” as part of its proposal.
No doubt, the parks could use some help. But what they need is TLC from the public, not to be handed over to businesses for the benefit of a select few.
Unfortunately, this is just another example of the Trump administration’s fundamental failure to understand that our public lands and resources are held in trust today for our children, their children and down the line.
The land use and conservation policies of this administration are nothing short of scandalous: the shrinking of national monuments, the opening of public lands to drilling and mining, the corruption of clean water standards and clean air standards, the lack of action to preserve the environment, etc.
Trump sees our public lands and natural resources simply as real estate to be exploited as quickly as possible — and ideally to pocket the money now before the mortgage comes due.
