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Bringing Color to the Public Lands Landscape

Jul 17th - 18:43pm | kath

But no one has yet said what the National Parks should do? Put in more exhibits about other cultures and races? Fine. Historical accuracy is always best. But does anyone have any evidence that this would increase minority park visitation? As I said, even when an entire park like Mesa Verde is entirely devoted to Native American history, the number of Native visitors is low.

Jul 17th - 17:50pm | Anonymous

beamis: while i usually appreciate your perspective, i don't think trying to share the values of the experience of a national park smacks of paternalism. people love nature, period. i've lead "colored" urban youth (many that didn't speak english and weren't born in this country), "lily white" gray hairs and international visitors on various tours in various outside locations year round.

Jul 17th - 17:18pm | Beamis

Tastes and fashions change. I started reading newspapers when I was 8 years old. Today kids could care less about the traditional newspaper. One by one these dinosaurs are dying out, the web having changed the way we get information forever. It will never go back to the days of newsprint no matter what the publishers try to do to change it.

Jul 17th - 16:25pm | Glenn Scofield ...

This is an exquisite, unnerving and important conversation. I'm glad there's a forum for it.

Jul 17th - 16:08pm | kath

Wayne: You still haven't said specifically what you think the NPS should do.

Jul 17th - 15:26pm | Anonymous

One poll I read a few years ago said that of ALL government services, people liked the National Parks more than anything. The only thing that could doom the National Parks is if huge population pressures make the parks and their surrounding lands housing developments, shopping centers, electrical corridors or highways.

Jul 17th - 15:08pm | Wayne Hare

Actually, The Park Service, for whom I rangered in the backcountry for 7 years, often refers to the lands it protects as museums for the enjoyment and education of its visitors.

Jul 17th - 10:51am | Beamis

I agree with Ranger X's inital observation that this is "meaningless drivel, mindless mumbo jumbo." The focus lavished on this issue is another example of a politically driven agenda awkwardly intruding upon what the natural mechanisms of the market place have brought about through free choice.

Jul 17th - 10:45am | kath

Anonymous is absolutely right. He said in one sentence what it took me a paragraph to say. Wayne sounds more like the marketing manager of a major corporation worried about his product's market share in the minority community than a ranger. The National Parks are not and should not be run like Disneyland worried about appealing to this or that demographic.

Jul 17th - 09:22am | Anonymous

When did it become the job of the NPS to attract a balanced cross section of ethnicity's to Our parks?

Jul 17th - 07:33am | jsmacdonald

First of all, it's a very interesting discussion, and I sense we are all taking it to heart. I appreciate Kurt's bibliography, though I'll insist that it wasn't necessary for us to have a serious discussion about this - it certainly adds to the richness of the discussion.

Jul 17th - 07:04am | Merryland

I don't pretend to be a statistician, so no worry there about how I apply them. I live in a part of the world where white people live in the big homes and black people generally don't. The dumpy part of town is 70% black and the nice areas are 90% white. I don't need any numbers to tell me that's former injustices still having a negative effect on people's lives.

Jul 17th - 00:59am | Merryland

This is per capita income for Boston in 2005. Just a single example but fairly consistent with most samplings from most metro areas I've seen. I'd wager that here in Baltimore or DC it's the same if not worse. White $41,194 Asian American $20,350 Hispanic or Latino $14,104 Black or African American $16,553

Jul 16th - 23:43pm | jersu

Wayne, Thanks very much for adding to the discussion on the website! I've been thinking about this topic all day. Your questions are good and worth exploring, specifically, what can racial diversity in the outdoors do for all of us?

Jul 16th - 23:10pm | snowbird

Ranger Hare, your comments are well taken...good input! Your comments have become a beacon light towards the issue on diversity in the National Parks.

Jul 16th - 22:24pm | Wayne Hare

Kurt Repanshek asked me to read the comments and write a response. I don’t want to get involved in an on-going discussion. I’m not an expert on this. I’m just an outdoor guy who made some observations and commented on those observations. Regarding empirical data versus hard science: Many have had the same observations as I.

Jul 16th - 22:00pm | Merryland

What I absolutely do NOT want to see is the National Park Service advertising or marketing itself to attract visitors. The parks are what they are -- and it should be a timeless attraction, not whatever this- or that-generation thinks is hip or chic at the moment. -- Jon

Jul 16th - 21:48pm | repanshek

To say that this has been an interesting discussion to follow would be an understatement. It's also not a new discussion, but rather one that's been poked and prodded from various angles since at least 1963, as the following list of studies indicates:

Jul 16th - 20:10pm | Merryland

I think it's all pretty simple -- people with the means to get to the National Parks go visit the National Parks. Those who can't afford it generally don't and/or can't.

Jul 16th - 19:34pm | RangerX

So, empirical studies on these issues would be quite nice, but we have plenty to understand that there is a problem. We don't need to know for sure the general tendencies to see that the specific instances (those anecdotes you deride) are plenty of evidence to work from about the wretched ways racism still touches us and the parks.

Jul 16th - 18:15pm | kath

First of all, Hare is simply wrong in his assessment. Yosemite and Sequoia in very Hispanic California get lots of Hispanic visitors. I've seen many Asians in the national parks, foreign visitors and Americans. The Grand Canyon gets people from all over the country. The parks in the Northwest get mostly Caucasians, but then the Pacific Northwest is the whitest part of the country.

Jul 16th - 14:47pm | jersu

First, for those interested in digesting more on this subject, the audio journal WildeBeat produced an episode about this very subject back in January.

Jul 16th - 14:05pm | RangerX

None of you have addressed the fundamental issue: Diversity is a code word for skin color. There is no anger or cynicism behind that comment.

Jul 16th - 13:18pm | snowbird

Kurt and Jim bring out some excellent points to ranger Hare's essay. It appears, we have a long way's to go, regarding ranger X's comment which borders on a bit of anger if not cynicism. Just knowing that some of us busted are butts off in college to get good grades with hopes to land in a respectable job, but to be squashed out by the goverments affirmative action clause.

Jul 16th - 11:22am | repanshek

I think one needs to separate diversity in the workplace and diversity in park visitors. The Park Service, according to the agency's own numbers, is overwhelmingly Caucasian and decidedly male-oriented.

Jul 16th - 10:56am | RangerX

"The real question is what diversity can do for all of us." No. This isn't a real question. It's not a real question because it doesn't have an answer, and Hare poses the question without even attempting an answer. It's meaningless drivel, mindless mumbo jumbo.

Jul 16th - 08:27am | Anonymous

the fact is that not only has this been going on for a long time, it is also that the outdoor industry and the public lands management agencies are freaking out about it.

West Yellowstone: A Gateway Town Worth Hanging Around

Jul 17th - 12:40pm | Anonymous

Our Sunday school class of 70+ young seniors came out to West Yellowstone last winter. We stayed in West and used it to try all different things. We took a snowcoach tour into West Yellowstone one day, learned to ride snowmobiles the next day and spent the day going along the groomed trails right outside of West Yellowstone. It was just as easy as driving our golf cart back home.

Jul 16th - 11:51am | Stephen Timblin

Hey Kurt,

Jul 15th - 22:14pm | Anonymous

We stayed in West Yellowstone last year while visiting the park and it was a great place to stay. Threre were some nice restaurants and the hotel we stayed at was comfortable. The access to the park is very good when you cannot find a place to stay in the park.

Jul 14th - 18:02pm | matt

I hadn't heard about Ruby's Inn trying to incorporate - that's awesome. Nothing better than spending a couple of winter days and nights at Ruby's for about $49/night. Off-season travel rocks!

Jul 13th - 20:08pm | repanshek

Don't forget Moab (aside from the semi traffic down main street). And I must admit I have somewhat fond memories of Cooke(d) City from 1988 when I was there covering the fires.

Jul 13th - 19:45pm | Beamis

Yes I agree with ya Kurt it is a great gateway town. I was there in May and it had not changed too terribly much since I had last visited way back in 1981. I worked a summer in Yellowstone, at the Lake, and my friends and I always headed for Montana on our off time to re-supply or make merry.

Jul 13th - 18:14pm | Merryland

Aww, man, now I'm hungry. My son and I are in the neighborhood in late August -- now I need to make a stop for BBQ... I'm sure it's better than park concessionaire fare any day... -- Jon Merryman

Congressman Calls for Investigation Into Fort Hancock Deal

Jul 17th - 04:48am | Terese Loeb Kreuzer

Dear Mr. Merryman, I couldn't agree with you more. I recently visited Sandy Hook, taking the ferry from Lower Manhattan. Its beautiful beaches were crowded on a hot July day, providing welcome relief from the heat for thousands of people. But the historic and natural attractions were equally interesting.

Private Party At Charlestown Navy Yard Doesn't Lack Alcohol

Jul 16th - 20:18pm | Disgusted Taxpayer

The misuse of the Navy Yard seems to be a matter of the government forgetting the purpose of our National Parks. The National Parks were developed to preserve our heritage either the historical or environmental heritage.

Jul 15th - 18:59pm | Anonymous

You should have been there for this...I was. I am a resident of the area and was told I could not walk down the Pier (which I do every night) by someone in a yellow shirt. I spoke with one of the Park Service officers and they told I could still ultilize the park even with this event.

Everglades To Host Another Meeting on Managing Boats

Jul 16th - 13:46pm | coolstud

It is visible to see what power boaters are doing,pictures don't lie.There are people who care,and the people who don't care are the ones to blame.Why not take the power boating completely out and have boats with no motors, enjoy the nature,get back to basics,like the indians did,whats wrong with that???

Should Anything Be Done With Angel's Landing?

Jul 16th - 06:08am | Anonymous

my son and i where there on may 20 and may 25 of 2007 we climbed upto scouts' landing just below angels landing and based on the amount of people going up and down, the time of day and the wind chose not to finish the climb up to angels' landing. other people made a similar chose and when either on or backdown.

Tragedy Stalks the National Parks

Jul 15th - 09:43am | repanshek

I'm not sure what Dickey's point was, but the use of profanity and personal attacks fail to drive discussion and are not condoned on this site. While we are interested in hearing as many points of view as possible, those that resort to such approaches will either be edited or removed.

Jul 15th - 09:05am | Merryland

If you consider the border parks in Arizona alone, sure, there are deaths in the National Parks every day. The Morning Report on the NPS site is a good source if you want your daily dose of morbidity. http://home.nps.gov/applications/morningreport/ -- Jon Merryman

Jul 15th - 06:50am | Rick Smith

Gee, Dicky, how about a little civility in your postings? Rick Smith

Park Shuttles, More Than Just A Bus?

Jul 15th - 00:28am | Anonymous

I wish there was a better shuttle system in many of the national parks. I think that the use of car actually restricts your freedom when you visit the park. For example, if you go hiking, you always have to come back to the point where you left your car.

Glacier's Shuttle System Rolling Along the Sun Road

Jul 14th - 22:31pm | snowbird

Susan, you sound like a real neat person to travel and be with. Unfortunately, Becky definitely needs a attitude adjustment. Let's get her started on with more flower power (an old hippie slogan).

Jul 14th - 21:07pm | susan

To be able to see the beauty and grandness of this totally awesome park I would ride with anyone.The spectacular wiews ,wildlife,flora and fauna are a very special part of my life experiences.People need to understand that everyone is in the parks for the very same reason,be you a hippi,yuppie,or any other thing you want to label people.If we are to respect Mother nature and all Her glories,you

Jul 14th - 00:55am | Becky

I don't want to ride a shuttle with nasty smelly hippies.

Climate Change: What Implications Does it Carry for the Parks?

Jul 14th - 14:23pm | Snowbird

Ruth, read between the lines what so called PhD is advocating...consume...consume until your hearts delight. I'm not alarmist, nor do I live in a cave like FOX NEWS would like to peg us who truly believe that Al Gore is on to something that is rational and potentially forthcoming in disaster. What's your beef? When Dr.

Jul 14th - 13:02pm | Ruth

Snowbird: You sound as if you might live in a cave...you must not "consume" anything! Wow...

Jul 14th - 10:42am | snowbird

Mr. Renault, I assume you refute NASA's indepth and extremely conscientious work on global warming...especially the brilliant work done by Dr. Jensen at NASA (remember how the goverment tried to stifle his work).

Jul 14th - 00:49am | Roger

Cmon now...we still know so little about the dynamic system that is our global climate.... So what caused "global warming" before the last ice age? Cars?

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