National Parks Conservation Association Praises Stimulus Investment in Utah's National Parks

Statement by Karen Hevel-Mingo, NPCA Program Manager

"Our national parks are national treasures, beloved by millions of Americans. As we know well here in Utah, these parks are tourism destinations for families and international travelers. Every year, the national parks in Utah generate over $480 million in visitor spending. We need to take care of these places that are so important to our state and local economies, and also to our personal health and well-being.

"The stimulus funding for Utah's national parks is a needed investment toward addressing the enormous backlog of maintenance and preservation projects, including repairing the condemned visitor center at Dinosaur National Monument. This is the kind of investment that will create local jobs, continue to attract visitors to Utah, and ensure that our national parks are ready for their centennial, and a second century of service to our nation.

"There’s much more to do to restore national parks in Utah and across the country, but this is excellent progress."

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