Park fee hike needed, but at smaller rate

Increase may make parks unaffordable for families

America is fortunate to have a wide variety of national parks. The parks are affordable to visit, and they give visitors a broader understanding of both nature and history. The National Park System protects and preserves America’s finest jewels.

However, the affordability factor may be changing. The National Park System is proposing entrance fee hikes to 17 of the parks, “as part of our commitment to improve the visitor experience and ensure America’s national parks are protected in perpetuity.”

The National Park Service notes, “Proposed peak season entrance fees and revised fees for road-based commercial tours would generate badly needed revenue for improvements to the aging infrastructure of national parks. This includes roads, bridges, campgrounds, waterlines, bathrooms, and other visitor services.”

The proposed increases are steep, however. The Associated Press reports that in some cases, weekly passes would increase from $30 to $70 per vehicle, while other parks will see an increase from $25 to $70. The big question on the table is whether or not families can afford that increase.

But that’s not the only variable to consider. One must also take into account the need for park maintenance. The parks need to be safe for visitors, and that means investing in aging infrastructure. A bridge without maintenance, for example, can quickly become dangerous.

Higher fees might drive people away, which in turn would have a negative impact on the communities nearby that depend on the traffic generated by the park, as less traffic by default means less business.

However, that’s a double-edged sword — less traffic to the parks themselves may mean less need for infrastructure improvements within the parks. And, given the fact that many of these parks are packed during their peak seasons, the move could help ease overcrowding issues as well.

There are a variety of variables to consider in this situation. However, the land is public — and should be affordable to all. A rate increase may be necessary, but perhaps not at the proposed increment.

What do you think, readers? Share your thoughts online on this article at www.YumaSun.com, or send us an email at letters@yumasun.com.

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