Park system officials face tough choices

AP via Yahoo! ^ | June 19, 2006 | RITA BEAMISH and FRANK BASS

[SZonian]

I disagree. First of all I'm already paying taxes that are supposed to be used to support the parks. I don't pay taxes to support Disneyland.

Now I have to pay $5 a day just to park on National Forest land, or $35 for an annual pass so I don't get hassled into a $100 fine. That's not counting the camping fees. So I need to keep paying higher "fees" because the gov't can't do their damn job and fund these parks appropriately?

I have no problem paying one way or the other, but I don't like paying twice for essentially the same "service".

SZ

[Brilliant]

Eliminate the tax subsidy. I go to the parks too, but I'd rather pay the outrageous Disney rates to get in, and have the enjoyable experience of being one of only a handful who are visiting the park on that particular day. And it would be a whole lot more fair to the rest of the taxpayers who won't have to pay for my recreation.

[IronJack]

"Most visitors do not realize that park resources have been under threat from deterioration, vandalism, neglect and rot for some time,"

[Give me more money!]

"We put up a good front and try to keep high visitor-use areas clean and neat.

[Give me more money!]

Even this facade is fading due to the lack of appropriate resources."

[Give me more money!]

I wonder if more money would help alleviate this horrible, horrible situation ...

[Inyo-Mono]

--exactly. And having been in and around DV quite a bit I suspect that "six thousand" figure includes almost any site where a few shovelfuls of dirt were moved, also--

LOL. I see that you have visited DV as much as I have.

[Thebaddog]

I got popped in Glacier NP a while ago for having cooking utensils out. No warning at all and the little weasel ranger was gleeful taking my credit card to process the fine. We left the next day because we didn't feel welcome in the campground. The bears felt very welcome.

[SZonian]

That's essentially what I'm saying. I'm paying twice for the same decrepit facilities. I wouldn't mind paying for an annual pass if it was my choice to do so.

I paid for a daily pass this week, went to Los Angeles National Forest, parked on a small paved area, rode bike trails and used a water spicket twice. Cost me $5.

Another rider who didn't pay for a pass got a citation and was threatened with a "conviction" that could result in a $100 fine for the first "conviction" and "higher fines" for subsequent convictions if he doesn't pay his $5 citation.

I suppose the stress on the parks has come to that, but, like you, I would rather quit subsidizing it (taxes) and pay as you go.


Cheers,
SZ