5 states reopening landmarks
Federal funds unlikely to go toward parks’ operation
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — Tourists returned to the Grand Canyon on Saturday after Arizona officials along with several counterparts agreed to a federal plan to reopen national parks, which had been closed as a result of the government shutdown.
But the approval of President Barack Obama’s administration to reopen tourist areas across the nation came with a caveat: States must foot the bill with money they likely won’t see again.
So far, Utah, Colorado, South Dakota, Arizona and New York have agreed to open parks that had been closed since the beginning of the month. Meanwhile, governors in other states were trying to gauge what would be the bigger economic hit — paying to keep the areas operating or losing the tourist money that flows when the scenic attractions are open.
In New York, Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo said his state will pay $61,600 per day to fully fund National Park Service personnel, and that the Statue of Liberty will open today.
South Dakota and several corporate donors worked out a deal with the Park Service to reopen Mount Rushmore beginning Monday. Republican Gov. Dennis Daugaard said it will cost $15,200 per day to pay the federal government to run the landmark in the Black Hills. He said he has wired four days’ worth of donations.
In Arizona, Republican Gov. Jan Brewer balked at spending about $112,000 per day for a full reopening of the Grand Canyon. She said a partial reopening would be much cheaper while allowing tourists to visit and businesses to benefit.
“The daily cost difference is enormous, especially without assurances that Arizona will be reimbursed,” said Andrew Wilder, a spokesman for Brewer.
In the end, Arizona agreed to pay the Park Service $651,000 to keep the Grand Canyon open for seven days. The $93,000 per day is about $19,000 less than what the federal government had said was needed to fund park operations.
At this time of year, the Grand Canyon draws about 18,000 people per day who pump an estimated $1 million per day into the area economy.
The town of Tusayan, just outside the canyon’s South Rim entrance, and area businesses have pledged $400,000 to help reopen the canyon, but Wilder said it was unclear whether the Interior Department could accept private funds.
Interior Department spokesman Blake Androff said Thursday that the government had no plans to reimburse states that pay to reopen parks. But members of Congress introduced legislation Friday to refund the money within 90 days.
At the Grand Canyon on Saturday afternoon, Joe Del Monte and his family planned to do some hiking and “soak in as much as possible and enjoy the nice weather.”
The family had planned the trip to the canyon from suburban Phoenix for their children’s midwinter break from school. Del Monte kept their hotel reservations in Tusayan while they visited Sedona, holding out hope that his son’s wish to throw a stick into the Grand Canyon would be fulfilled.
“It was a bit of disbelief that they could close a place like the Grand Canyon,” said Del Monte, of Chandler. “We’re grateful politics got pushed to the side.”