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How Are Your Entrance Fees Spent Across the National Park System?

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Published Date

January 31, 2011

Each year, the National Park Service collects well over $100 million in entrance fees. But how does the agency spend that money? Let's take a look.

During Fiscal 2010, the Park Service was able to underwrite nearly 1,700 projects at nearly 300 units of the National Park System with about $195 million in entrance fees, according to Jane Moore, the agency's fee program manager in Washington, D.C.

Under a system for reallocating funds to parks that don't charge entrance fees, some $30 million worth of projects were underwritten at such parks, said Ms. Moore.

"About half of all the projects and dollars were directed toward work on various facilities in the parks, such as buildings, trails, roads and parking lots to address the backlog of maintenance," she said. "The other half was directed toward education and interpretive programs presented to visitors, the printing of brochures and other literature, the development of long-range plans such as Comprehensive Interpretive Plans and provided 'assistive' listening devices at many parks."

Here's a quick breakdown of areas in which the monies were spent. Totals range above $195 million as some projects fit in multiple categories and are included in those categories.

* 288 projects addressed accessibility compliance. $31,930,339

* 673 projects addressed deferred maintenance. $83,083,988

* 654 projects addressed health and safety issues. $93,970,488

* 98 projects addressed disturbed land restoration. $7,803,630

* 314 projects addressed education. $32,973,203

* 203 projects addressed sustainability. $31,681,147

* 274 projects involved partnerships. $24,883,995

* 174 projects involved volunteerism. $14,798,963

* 248 projects involved youth work programs. $11,869,556

"Many parks are able to engage youth, enhance volunteer programs, take advantage of partnerships and often partner dollars to accomplish work," said Ms. Moore. "While not all projects were able to be completed during the fiscal year, over 500 of the projects were completed with hundreds more in progress to be completed in FY2011."

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Comments

Submitted by admin on January 31, 2011 - 11:39am.

288 projects addressed accessibility compliance. $31,930,339

I have a remark about this. I visited the Grand Canyon (south rim) January 4, 2011. I was with my sister and friends, my sister is in a wheel chair. There were no paths cleared of snow to get to the restrooms at the main visitor center. We almost dumped her out a couple times trying to get her to the restroom. There were workers there working on some construction project. Why could they not have had them clear a couple paths to the visitor center?? I went in and spoke with the rangers in the visitor center asking if there was a better way to get her back to the car. Their answer was maybe lot 4 access. It was no better,snow packed walk ways. We did see that the employee walks to where they parked was cleared of ALL snow. This park does not have handicap accessable sidewalks. I did find it interesting they never said go ahead and pull around to the back to get her back to the car. I was very disappointed about the whole thing.


Submitted by admin on January 31, 2011 - 11:52am.

Hey, Julie, the handicapped access into the Canyon just got reduced by 75% (really) to add to your visitor center issue. I suspect you know of which I am speaking, LOL!
Rich


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