U.S. park fees increase slightly
Devotees of the U.S. National Parks can now utter a sigh of relief over the proposed mild increase in entrance fees
During the early months of the Trump administration, it was widely rumored that the new head of the Department of the Interior, Ryan Zinke, would propose a doubling of the entrance fees to some 100 national parks that charge admission. The reaction to that drastic proposal was so negative — from both sides of the aisle in Congress — that it was since assumed that a far milder increase would be enacted. Happily, that is exactly what happened. Public reaction to the proposed fee hike was so severe, so strong, that Zinke made a hasty retreat. Earlier in June, it was been announced that the Department of the Interior will enact only a $5 increase in the charge for entering a popular U.S. national park (like the Grand Canyon) where entrance fees are charged. But it’s important that the public keep a close watch on Zinke, whose private opinion clearly is in favor of a greater increase in entrance fees. Since Zinke cannot propose a hike in federal taxes to cover the needed improvements in park Yosemite National Park. infrastructure (heaven forbid!), it is probable that someday soon he may be back with a proposal for higher fees. Already, Zinke is promoting a proposal to tax the earnings from the mining and oil drilling that he would permit in the parks - and those would be used for park improvement. Either way, the public loses. A general hike in federal taxes to cover needs of the parks is urgently needed. The backlog in required maintenance and improvement is measured in billions of dollars. Taxes levied on people who are able to pay them — and not upon lowincome citizens, for whom the parks are the only locales for low-income vacations — are the only honorable means of protecting and preserving the parks. Organizations all over America are committed to preserving the parks. If one such group is located nearby, it behooves you to join it, helping the fight against further increases in fees for enjoying our cherished U.S. national parks. Note to the reader: Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip. The information in this column was accurate when it was released, but prices are competitive, sometimes limited and can always change without notice.