Park Friends Groups Offer A Variety Of Responses To The Government Shutdown

The recent government shutdown has all but shuttered U.S. national park facilities. While the parks are to remain open, staffing will be minimal, with visitor centers, restrooms, and facility buildings remaining closed for the duration of the shutdown. In spite of the challenges facing parks, some park friends groups are trying to strike an optimistic tone.

The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation is inviting visitors to keep their park travel plans in place in order to enjoy the autumn foliage. They encourage visitors to take in scenic overlooks, hike the park trails, and even camp, though they note that trips should be planned carefully considering the lack of staff.

The Shenandoah National Park Trust took a different approach. In response to the question of whether people should visit the park during the shutdown, their answer is simply “No.”

“The absence of park employees during a government shutdown places a greater responsibility on visitors to protect and respect this cherished natural treasure,” says the Trust’s website. “If you’re planning to visit Shenandoah while park employees are furloughed, you will be the primary steward of the park, and it will be entirely your responsibility to ensure that your visit has a minimal impact on the environment and wildlife, and to keep yourself and other visitors safe.”  

The Voyageurs Conservancy offered a balanced message, encouraging visitors to enjoy the park responsibly while also pointing out the difficult position that park staff have been put in.

“[T]hese special places don’t care for themselves,” wrote the Conservancy in a recent update. “Behind every trail, campsite, or wildlife project are essential park staff who work tirelessly to maintain our park…Many park staff face uncertainty about their next paycheck, while vacant positions and potential cuts put our park at risk.”

The National Parks of Lake Superior Foundation, which supports five parks across three states, highlighted the uncertainty around the shutdown. They also presented a straightforward message to visitors: “You will still be able to enter park land during the shut down but it won’t be business as usual.”

Despite the distinct messages from the friends groups, they all emphasize that if people choose to visit, they should practice Leave No Trace Principles to help care for the parks during the shutdown. Leave No Trace includes hiking on established trails, disposing of waste (which may include packing it out), leaving natural and cultural artifacts where you found them, and respecting wildlife by keeping a distance.

Other messages that have been similar across the friends’ responses include urging visitors to engage with policymakers to stress the importance of park funding, express appreciation for park staff that are still working, and support local businesses around national parks.