Park Service to seek new money sources

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

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!

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.

They hope to 'auction' it off.

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.

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.