First Lady's Visit Brings Needed Attention to National Parks
May 2007
On April 29th, First Lady Laura Bush visited Zion National Park. Her personal passion and support for our national parks is an inspiration to all Americans who cherish our natural and cultural heritage. She has helped encourage young people to embrace learning opportunities in these living classrooms through the Junior Ranger program, and has brought needed attention to the wonders of our National Park System, and their continuing needs.
The Administration's new National Park Centennial Initiative, which includes a proposed operating increase of more than $200 million for parks in the 2008 budget, is an important step that will put rangers back in our parks to protect natural and cultural treasures, and educate and inspire visitors. For instance, the Administration's budget requests an additional $901,000 for Zion, a 14 percent increase over the park's fiscal year 2006 operating budget.
But this only represents a down payment on what must be a multi-year, multi-pronged effort to restore Zion and all of our parks, which now suffer from an operating shortfall in excess of $800 million annually.
With the centennial of the National Park System now less than 10 years away, we have an important opportunity to restore our beloved but beleaguered parks. Taking care of our national parks should be a national priority. We are pleased the nation's First Lady is taking steps to support that idea.
This article is from the May 2007 issue of NPCA's Park Lines. Each month Park Lines takes you to a new park, highlights one of our campaigns, and keeps you informed about what the staff at NPCA are up to and how you can help. Read our latest issue and subscribe for your very own free copy.
