Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, citing the country's continuing economic doldrums, has selected 17 days this year when entrance to all units of the National Park System will be free.
“Many people have made resolutions to spend more quality time with loved ones and to get outdoors and unplug in 2011,” the secretary said today in a press release. "There’s no better place than a national park to help keep those resolutions. Parks offer superb recreational opportunities, making them perfect places to enjoy our beautiful land, history and culture, and nurture a healthy lifestyle.”
Secretary Salazar noted that with 394 national parks throughout the country, most Americans live within a few hours of a park, making them places for easy and affordable vacations any time of the year.
“In these tough economic times, our fee-free days will give families many opportunities to enjoy our nation’s heritage and natural beauty in meaningful and affordable ways,” he said.
The 2011 fee-free dates will be the upcoming weekend of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (January 15-17), National Park Week (April 16-24), the first day of summer (June 21), National Public Lands Day (September 24), and the weekend of Veterans Day (November 11-13).
The first fee free days are centered on the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.
“Visitors can literally walk in Dr. King’s footsteps at national parks such as Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site in Georgia, Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail in Alabama, or the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC,” said National Park Service Director Jonathan Jarvis. “They are just a few of the dozens of national parks which trace the history of African Americans.”
“Several parks will also honor Dr. King by hosting volunteer projects for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service on January 17,” added the Park Service director. “It is the only federal holiday observed as a national day of service – a day on, not a day off.”
Many national park concessions will also offer discounts on fee free days, saving visitors money on food, lodging, tours, and souvenirs. More information is available at http://www.nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparks.htm.
Support Essential Coverage of Essential Places
Comments
What about August 25?
Sorry, no mention of August 25...the date in 1916 when the National Park Service Organic Act came to be.
I do wonder, though, how this lost revenue for the Parks will be made up - since the Parks get to keep those entrance fees, doesn't waiving the entrance fees mean less money for the Parks?
I think we all agree that it would be nice if visiting a National Park were free - but visiting a National Park requires money to pay for things like Ranger programs, keeping the bathrooms clean, and paving the entrance road. Many families are very quick to pay upwards of $40 per family to spend 2-3 hours in a dark movie theatre to watch the latest Harry Potter flick - we should be encouraging what a bargain $25 for a week in a National Park is by comparison rather than obsessing over waiving these much-needed revenues for the Parks.
I agree with the point made by Sabattis and would like to take it a bit further. This is, let's face it, marketing of a sort, in the face of an ongoing economic downturn. But we need to keep the revenue stream at the parks, since Congress underfunds them, and maybe the way to do that is to entice more people to visit. And entice them in completely new ways.
Just off the top of my head, here are some "new ways": Maybe a pass that allows a people cheaper access to parks within 50 miles of the address on their identification. Maybe a "passport" that allows one free visit for every x number of paid visits. Maybe a passport that allows free access to the third park you visit after showing stamps for two others. Maybe a free visit if you pay to go to a park for a specific event (ranger talk, whatever) that is stamped at the event. Etc., etc., etc. "Buy one, get one free" works really well in retail, after all.
I'd like to see more brainstorming of this sort at NPS. We all know they've got the brains, creativity, and passion, but it is too seldom applied to bringing in people for new experiences.
I have to agree with sabattis and anonymousD. The parks need the revenue. And with that in mind, something needs to be done to get fees for the Great Smoky Mountains. It's been free 365 days a year for far too long, and it's a drag on the rest of the park system.
Getting folks out to our parklands should not be as expensive as it is. Many get tax breaks, but I pay no income taxes and yet I pay park fees. What is the difference? I am looking at April 2011 and the prospects of four FREE days as a draw to get me to North Carolina Hatteras Island and do some surf fishing. You'all with the big ideas as to how much our parks need the revenue stream can just leave your donations at the park rangers cabin. As for me, I am going to visit the outer banks in April and that, I think, is what the promo is all about!
Sorry Fisherman. April is a wonderful time to visit Cape Hatteras National Seashore and RECREATION Area. (CHNSRA) and since it's inception it has had FREE access to the beaches. ORV use, contrary to all the hype, has been extremely respectful of the environment. But this year the NPS will be enacting their favorite "PLAN". In that plan they will be closing larger portions of the beach to ORV and in some cases pedestrian traffic forever. This is in response to lawsuits by Environmental Lawyers representing some of the nations most hypocritical environmental advocacy groups.
The new plan requires ORV operators to attend mandatory beach driving school and permits seem to be the answer to control. Permit will undoubtedly have a fee attached and who know how many other unreported activities will be required with this permit program.
With that said, you can come to CHNSRA in April but the beaches will be closed to fishing at most of the best locations. It seems that the plan now will required a 1000 meter buffer around nests. 1000 Meters is larger than an American Aircraft Carrier. And these buffers are created as soon as someone (bird watcher) says they saw nesting activities. Even if it's two MALE Oyster Catchers fooling around looking like they plan on nesting together (yea... they did!)
So you plan for a spring fishing trip may not include Surf Fishing.. at least from any place where the fishing historically has been the best.
Fisherman, whether closures will be in effect, and where, during mid-April is difficult to say at this point.
Park officials point out that "visitors can expect to see resource closures for breeding shorebirds in effect to varying degrees from mid-March to mid-to-late-August and sea turtle nesting closures may occur until early November." (And, of course, storms can force closures as well.)
Every week beginning in April the seashore issues releases outlining the latest closures. Called the "Beach Access Report," this information can be found on the park's website -- www.nps.gov/caha -- under the "Park News" section. You can find a link to this section in the lefthand column of the homepage. It's a good resource to help negotiate the seashore.
You also can call the seashore at 252-473-2111 for the latest closure information.