Park Issues

The National Park Service and our almost 400 national parks and other units across the country are constantly facing issues of concern to all Americans.

Many of the concerns are rooted in money. While the parks are funded mostly by federal dollars, there is growing dependence on private funds to keep the parks in the best condition possible.

In this section of the Web site, we present more than 50 news articles about the most pressing concerns, problems, and on-going issues facing the national park system today. These articles were prepared by our reporters in fall 2009, spring 2008, and spring 2007.

We discuss funding plans, budget concerns, admissions fees and other revenue streams, accessibilty for the disabled, attendance and visitation patterns, overuse of some parks, promotion and underuse of other units, the relationships of parks and their nearby gateway cities, and global warming impact on cold climate parks.

Furthermore, we focus on park maintenance, care and cleaning of natural park sites, safety and security, crime, quality staffing problems, volunteerism, the most threatened parks and why they are in danger, and water issues within the parks of the west.

We give detailed attention to wildfires, wildlife management, plant and non-native species management, aerial tours and their impact on the parks, regulation of hunting in and around parks, park promotion, and the process of creating new parks.

We hope you will take some time to look into these important matters that impact Our National Parks. We feel attention to them is essential to their future.

Park Issues

National Parks Issues 2009

National Parks Issues 2008

National Parks Issues 2007