Open & Shut? National Parks Funding 2014

OPEN & SHUT? NATIONAL PARKS FUNDING 2014 OVER THE COURSE OF THE 16-DAY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, NATIONAL PARK CLOSURES DOMINATED THE HEADLINES, WITH STORIES FROM DISAPPOINTED VISITORS AND HUNDREDS OF HOTELS, RESTAURANTS, AND STORES LOSING BUSINESS. THE DOORS TO EVERY NATIONAL PARK ARE NOW BACK OPEN, BUT IF PARK FUNDING CONTINUES ON ITS CURRENT COURSE, THOSE DOORS WILL CLOSE A FEW DAYS A WEEK, MORE SCHOOL PROGRAMS WILL BE CANCELLED, AND MUCH-NEEDED REPAIRS WILL BE NEGLECTED. AS CONGRESS BEGINS 2014 BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS, A FEW FACTS AND FIGURES THAT REVEAL WHAT'S AT STAKE. LEARN MORE AT www.NPCA.ORG/FUNDING NO COINCIDENCE AS CONGRESS CUTS THE PARK CONSTRUCTION BUDGET, NEGLECTED MAINTENANCE PROJECTS BALLOON. O DECLINING CONSTRUCTION BUDGET ADJUSTED FOR INFLATION, IN THOUSANDS GROWING MAINTENANCE BACKLOG IN THOUSANDS $11,500,000 $11,400,000 $11,000,000 $10,200,000 $8,000,000 $8,800,000 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 $258,327 $236,428 $252,472 $256,141 $191,218 $157,634 NEW PARKS? NOT THE PROBLEM IN RECENT MONTHS, SOME MEMBERS OF CONGRESS HAVE SUGGESTED NO LONGER DESIGNATING NEW NATIONAL PARK UNITS IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE ENTIRE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MAINTENANCE BACKLOG. AS YOU CAN SAND CREEK BATTLE GROUND SEE, THE NEW PARK UNITS INCLUDING FLIGHT 93 AND AFRICAN BURIAL GROUND NATIONAL MONUMENT COST RELATIVELY LITTLE, AND ELIMINATING THEM WOULD NOT ADDRESS THE RISING BACKLOG. THESE NEW, IMPORTANT SITES TELL AMERICA'S SHARED HISTORY. $350 MILLION $300,000,000 $200,000,000 AFRICAN BURIAL GROUND NATIONAL MEMORIAL $100,000,000 $10 MILLION COMBINED ANNUAL BUDGETS OF NEW PARK ANNUAL GROWTH IN NPS MAINTENANCE FLIGHT 93 UNITS ESTABLISHED BACKLOG NATIONAL MEMORIAL IN LAST TEN YEARS EVERGLADES THE $80M TO-DO LIST IN MAINE, OUR GEM OF A NATIONAL PARK, PROJECTS AT EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK ARE TYPICAL ACADIA OF THOSE FACING PARK UNITS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, DUE TO DECLINING PARK FUNDING. IS SHUTTERED DURING THE PEAK OF THE FOLIAGE SEASON. THIS NOT ONLY DISAPPOINTS TOURISTS, IT HURTS THE INNKEEPERS, BED AND BREAKFAST OWNERS, SERVERS AT RESTAURANTS, AND THE SMALL GIFT SHOP ENTREPRENEURS WHO DEPEND ON THESE TOURISTS VISITO DURING THIS TIME OF YEAR. SENATOR SUSAN COLLINS (R-ME) REPLACE & REHAB REHABILITATE BOAT DOCKS VISITOR FACILITIES AT EVERGLADES CHINCOTEAGUE'S ECONOMY IS FUNDAMENTALLY ABOUT VISITS TO THE NATIONAL SEASHORE, ASSATEAGUE AND CHINCOTEAGUE ISLANDS... [OUR] AT LONG PINE KEY CITY MARINA CAMPGROUND $396,000 $305,000 ENTIRE ECONOMY HAD ITS GUTS PULLED OUT DURING THE FEDERAL SHUTDOWN. SENATOR TIM KAINE (D-VA) REPLACE ROOF OF SAFETY & FIRE FLAMINGO VISITOR PROTECTION UPGRADES FOR CENTER FLAMINGO VISITOR CENTER $595,000 AND MUSEUM $30,000 J NATIONAL PARKS 89%OF ARE A TINY AND DECLINING PART OF THE FEDERAL BUDGET. IF YOU ELIMINATED THE ENTIRE NPS BUDGET IT WOULD TAKE ABOUT 6,000 YEARS MONTANA BUSINES S OWNERS TO ELIMINATE THE DEBT. SURVEYED SAID NATIONAL PARKS, FORESTS AND WILDLIFE AREAS ARE AN DENY GALVIN RETIRED DEPUTY DIRECTOR, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE ESSENTIAL PART OF MONTANA'S ECONOMY ECONOMIC IMPACT RELATIVE TO COST so $50,000,000 $100,000,000 $150,000,000 $200,000,000 ACADIA NATIONAL PARK LAKE MEAD NATIONAL RECREATION AREA STATUE OF LIBERTY NATIONAL MONUMENT OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK GETTYSBURG NATIONAL MILITARY PARK CUYAHOGA VALLEY NATIONAL PARK LAKE ROOSEVELT NATIONAL RECREATION AREA FREDERICKSBURG & SPOTSYLVANIA NATIONAL MILITARY PARK CUMBERLAND GAP NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK 2011 POSITIVE ECONOMIC IMPACT ON THE REGION 2012 ENACTED BUDGET IT'S LIKE CLOSING A SHOPPING MALL THE AVERAGE AMERICAN HOUSEHOLD PAYS CHRISTMAS $2.56 STARBUCKS AT TIME. IN TAXES EACH YEAR FOR OUR NATIONAL PARKS A LITTLE MORE THAN IT'S THE TIME OF YEAR WHERE YOU EITHER MAKE IT, OR DON'T MAKE IT. CUP OF COFFEE AT PHIL FRANCIS FORMER SUPERINTENDENT OF BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY QUOTED BY THE HUFFINGTON POST REGARDING THE IMPACT OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN ON REGIONAL TOURISM BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY RECEIVES MORE VISITORS IN OCTOBER THAN ANY OTHER NATIONAL PARK, WITH SOURCES: 60,000 SPENDING Blue Ridge Now, Huffington Post, NATIONAL $1.4 MILLION National Parks Traveler, NPS, Public Opinion Busan Collins, Sen. Tim Kaine. PARKS Strategies, Sen. CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION Third Way VISIT OR SEACH DAY.