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Reader Participation Day: How Would You Deal With Overcrowding In National Parks?

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What can be done to better manage crowds at Zion National Park and other park units?/NPS

We're getting into the height of the travel season for the National Park System, and parks are reporting monthly visitation records. That's having a strain on park resources and park staff, leading some park managers to consider implementing a reservation system for visitors. But not everyone is on board with that idea.

At Yellowstone National Park, 446,875 people passed through the entrance gates. That's more than a 6 percent increase over last year (419,635 visits) and surpasses May 2016 (444,630 visits) as the busiest May ever in Yellowstone.

At Zion National Park, where park staff have been trying to come up with a workable solution to their chronic overcrowding, public response has not exactly embraced the idea of having to make a reservation to visit this red rock wonder in southwestern Utah.

Many visitors expressed opposition or apprehension over the idea of a reservation system. Commenters often stated they did not know the answer to issues but did not believe a reservation system is the solution. Some commenters suggested if Zion National Park moves forward with a reservation system that this would set a precedent for other national parks. Other commenters stated that requiring a reservation is fundamentally against the mission and values of the National Park Service. -- ZION NATIONAL PARK VISITOR USE MANAGEMENT PLAN PRELIMINARY ALTERNATIVE CONCEPTS PUBLIC COMMENT SUMMARY REPORT

Business owners near Zion National Park are wary about any system that might put a lid on visitation.

“Yes, there’s more to be done to provide a better park experience, a better Southern Utah experience, but we don’t think now is the time to implement a hugely restrictive plan,” Jake Millard, assistant general manager at the Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort, told the St. George News.

Breck Dockstader, owner of Cliffrose Lodge and Gardens and a member of the Utah Tourism Industry Association and the Zion Canyon Visitors Bureau, told the newspaper that more thought and options are needed before the park resorts to a reservation system.

“Zion is my home, I want to make sure it’s protected so my kids, and all future generations, have a chance to experience what I experienced," he said. "But we can’t just go backwards. We have to look forward and come up with a really innovative way to help protect the incredible resource that Zion is, while also allowing people to come and experience it.”

If you're one who thinks reservations are a bad idea for national parks, what would you suggest? What can park staff do to protect resources -- plants, animals, scenery, facilities -- when confronted with crowding throngs of visitors and when they don't have enough personnel to manage the crowds?

Comments

I think we need a multi-layered approach. The first being how do we deal with the problem in front of us today and more importantly how do we deal with it tomorrow. So far discussion has been near sighted looking at overcrowding today, this year, at this moment in time. While we do need to address it in the present we have to begin to look at larger trends over the last century and see what causes certain parks to get more visitors than others based on population, ease of travel and it's inherit beauty. Just coming off the centennial I can't help but wonder what the bicentennial will look like. How do we do things today that won't adversly affect the park tomorrow for our children's children. Do we go as far as expanding boundaries and growing the parks capacity? After all, in another hundred years forest like the Smokies reclaimed today would begin to look like old growth forrest again.  


Have multiple entrances and multiple trails to popular sites that can be closed/cycled to maintain them. Many more intense hikers will prefer to do a more interesting and challenging hike to get away from the crowds or just for its own merit. A slight discount during the middle of the week on the shoulder seasons may help spread out the crowd as well. You could also look into how major theme parks manage crowds, they may be able to help give some pointers 


I believe that a reservation system will help relieve the environmental stress caused by excessive visitation. I also believe that the national parks need to charge a minimum daily usage fee of at least $100.00 per person along with a vehicle entry fee of $50.00 per car, $80.00 per van, $200.00 per camper/bus. Premium fees could be charged for more popular parks. (I sadly witnessed the disrespectful treatment of our parks during a recent free admission event.)  Non-citizen usage fee should be at least twice the U.S. citizen usage fee. All money collected could then be used exclusively for park preservation, staffing, scientific study and possible expansion to protect our magnificant natural resources for the future.


I'm grateful to have experienced these places when I was young and they were relatively unspoiled and inexpensive.  Even if I could afford to travel, I would never visit parks where reservations or shuttles were required.  I'd like to see at least half of each park's carrying capacity stay first-come, first-served.

"And so, we offer a lament, as the love and longing for the quiet moment, passed along from generation to generation, for more than a century, from Thoreau to Muir to Leopold to Abbey, draws to a close. The solitude is there, if you know where to look for it, but who’s looking? And who would notice or care if it went away?"

http://www.canyoncountryzephyr.com/2018/06/04/take-it-or-leave-it-why-cr...


Off season /shoulderseason.  Go when less people are there. 

Usually you can get an excuse approved by the school system to go someplace special like our National Parks with your school aged kids.  I support what the NPS is trying to do on looking at visitor use capacity but it isn't an easy answer. If you can enjoy these places at a different time of year it is a great alternative.  Maybe this is one problem that we can't just rely on the NPS to solve..maybe each individual knows what they are going to deal with at certain parks and certain times of year.  Just like you plan your commute going to and from work and you don't try to leave at the height of rush hour so to you can plan your visit to some of these place.

 

 


Having visited Zion just yesterday, I would be in favor of a reservation system. I do not believe it is counter to the mission of the mission and values of the National Park Service. You would not be limiting access, just controlling it. Off-hand I cannot think of a reason this would be a "bad precedent" to set for other national parks. Most people plan ahead and know precisely when they will be visiting. Further, having a reduced number of people visiting the park would enhance the experience for all. Reducing a 45+ minute wait for the shuttle to 10 minutes, and/or eliminating standing room only on the shuttles would have greatly enhanced my experience yesterday. Plus, the 15+ minute search for parking was not how I wanted to spend my time at the Park. What should have been an awe-inspiring visit focused on the beauty of the area was undermined by long lines, unavailable parking, and frustrated people. You won't please everyone initially, but in time, people will accept and get used to having to make reservations. And in the long run, it will be the best for all involved. 


Multi-layered approach. First of all, public appreciation for the outdoors is good, should not be discouraged, and in fact should be encouraged and nourished. This is the only way we'll have the consensus to preserve our natural beauty and wildness.

1. MORE PARKS, larger parks. The demand will and should increase.

2. Visitation quotas. Harsh but necessary or the place(s) will be ruined.

3. Public transportation only (like Denali) in the most dense parks.

4. Modestly higher fees in order to support and maintain #1-3


o agree that increased fees - especially for vehicles, and perhaps foreign visitors may be part of the solution. Maybe charge fees on a daily, rather than weekly visits. However the fees amounts suggested by P. Preservation would limit access to parks for all but those in the highest socioeconomic levels. National Parks are supposed to be accessible to all. I want all children and families to be able to experience the beauty of our parks so they will understand the critical importance of protecting them. 


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