Report on Park Backlog
NPCA recently released a report, The Burgeoning Backlog, to draw attention to the growing backlog of deferred maintenance in America's national parks, estimated to be as much as $6.8 billion. Among other problems, the backlog has led to crumbling structures, outdated visitor centers, and poorly maintained campgrounds and trails. The report reveals decades of insufficient funding in the national parks and calls on Congress and the Bush administration to increase annual funding for the parks and pass a transportation bill, The Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, that would allocate about $270 million each year to repair and rebuild park roads and bridges over the next six years.
Washington, D.C.-More than 140,000 people, among them thousands of veterans and President George W. Bush, visited the National Mall on May 29 to see the long-awaited dedication of the National World War II Memorial. The memorial is the National Park System's 388th unit and features interpretive programs about the war, as well as a touch-screen computer database of the names of Americans who served in the war. For more information on the site, visit www.nps.gov/nwwm/index.htm.
Yellowstone, N.P.-June marked the 100th birthday of Yellowstone's Old Faithful Inn. The national historic landmark, known for its exceptional rustic architecture, has hosted millions of visitors since opening in 1904. Among the treasured aspects of the inn are the asymmetrical windows in its six-story lobby that give visitors a feeling of standing in the forest. The park offered special exhibits and activities in May, and more activities will be held later this summer. For more information, visit www.nps.gov/yell.
Minuteman Missile N.H.S.-Visitors can get a sneak peak at Minuteman Missile National Historic Site in South Dakota this summer. Although the park site will not be fully operational for several years, visitors can tour the site through September 6. The park site was recently created to illustrate the history and significance of the Cold War, the arms race, and intercontinental ballistic missile development. To make reservations, call 605-433-5552.
Channel Islands N.P.-The Channel Islands fox was recently listed as an endangered species, bringing additional support to groups working to restore it. The Park Service and The Nature Conservancy have worked for several years to save the island fox, whose populations on Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, and San Miguel islands plummeted more than 95 percent between 1994 and 2000, largely because of predation by golden eagles. Thanks to the Park Service's captive breeding program, populations rose in recent years from 15 to 38 on San Miguel and 14 to 54 on Santa Rosa.
