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Reader Participation Day: Should National Parks Be Closed Or Kept Open During Government Shutdowns?

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Published Date

January 30, 2019
Vandals cut down this Joshua tree in Joshua Tree National Park/NPS

Joshua Tree National Park officials said February 1 that this downed Joshua tree had been cut down prior to the recent partial government shutdown/NPS

Going back to 2013, we've now had two rather lengthy government shutdowns. In 2013, the National Park System was closed to the public, while this time around the parks were for the most part kept open. Which do you believe is the better approach?

The 2013 shutdown raised quite a bit of consternation, and some vandalism, and this year's shutdown raised quite a bit of consternation, and some vandalism. Indeed, the spectre of a downed Joshua tree this month could be seen as the sad emblem of this year's shutdown.

If you were in charge, would you order the parks closed, no matter the season, or keep the gates open and deal with the consequences?

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Comments

Submitted by Amarillobymorning on January 30, 2019 - 9:29am.

Closed so all of us can feel the pinch and maybe enough of us will get mad enough to light some fires under Congressional/Presidential sit-upons.
BUT must have adequate staff on duty to guard the parks as we have seen that a few folks will seize any opportunity for selfish, destructive behaviors.


Submitted by Kent McDonald on January 30, 2019 - 9:37am.

The national parks should be closed if there are inadequate staff to protect the parks.  As the picture that goes along with this post shows, we unfortunately can't prevent idiots from treating our parklands with respect.


Submitted by JB on January 30, 2019 - 9:52am.

Pass an automatic continuing resolution bill that would eliminate government shutdowns. 


Submitted by Che on January 30, 2019 - 9:54am.

Close the parks during shutdowns. Charge more for non - US residents to get us out of the backlog of infrastructure needs . Keep the parks pristine for Americans for generations


Submitted by Anonymous II on January 30, 2019 - 9:58am.

If the parks aren't fully staffed the gates should stay locked. And any unauthorized persons found inside them should be charged with criminal trespass and persecuted to the fullest extent of the law. 


Submitted by Jerry Neyman on January 30, 2019 - 10:23am.

Truly sad that we are even having this conversation, close them. 


Submitted by Gary C on January 30, 2019 - 10:33am.

Sadly, close them and keep law enforcement on  any at all costs. It's pathetic that many of our fellow humans show what they are trul like. Better idea would be to make unlawful to shut down the government


Submitted by Deby Dixon on January 30, 2019 - 10:48am.

Yellowstone operated just fine during the shutdown, with very few major problems.  The communities and tour guides all worked hard to keep things running smoothly and were successful.  Thousands of people visited the park and had great vacations.  Perhaps the local communities, surrounding these parks, need to get together with the park service and find out how they can keep things running smoothly in the event of another shutdown?  A little pre-planning might go a long ways in keeping the parks safe and operational.  If there is no help from the local communities, then the park should close - the destruction at Joshua Tree is unconscionable.  


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