INCREASES FAR GREATER THAN THE CPI
National Parks Plan Big Fee Increases
By Bill Schneider, 3-26-07
The federal government has a financial plan for the national parks, but they didn’t want to release it to the public the agency serves. Instead, a few concerned citizens have to wade through the laborious process of obtaining documents under the Freedom of Information Act.
Now that Scott Silver of Wild Wilderness and friends did the digging for us, we know what many of us have suspected all along. The National Park Service (NPS) has a multi-year plan to keep raising fees. About 60 percent (88 of 147) of our parks and monuments have scheduled fee increases this year or in 2008. Most of the rest plan an increase for 2009.
In the end, many parks will double or even triple fees. And who says inflation is only 2.5 percent?
I guess we shouldn’t be surprised by the incremental, “water torture” treatment. Private businesses do it all the time, raising prices an inch at a time to keep customers from revolting. Ditto for the U.S. Postal Service. But somehow it seems like Our National Park Service should be more forthcoming.
“Why hasn’t the NPS simply come right out and explained to the media, and thus to the American People, what they are doing?” asks Silver. “Why are they dragging this thing out and feeding us the bad news one tiny bite at a time?”
You can find out how much you’ll be paying at your favorite national park or monument by clicking here, but it’s clear that most major national parks in the New West have a little “collusion” plan underway. Big parks like Glacier, Rocky Mountain, Zion, Yellowstone, Bryce Canyon, Grand Teton and others will all raise annual fees to $50, per-vehicle fees to $25 and per-person fees to $12 by 2009. Smaller parks usually charge smaller fees, but almost all of them plan sizeable increases.
According to Silver, the NPS has had this organized fee increase plan underway since 2001 and based it on a “fee analysis was performed for the agency by private contractors.”
You have to wonder when these ever-increasing fees reach the point of diminishing returns, where fees raise less money instead of more because most people won’t be able to afford to even see their national parks.
Bill, I would like to see you send your column off to Montana's congressional delegation and elicit comments. Someone with some muscle needs to champion this.
Comment By Bill Schneider, 3-26-07Craig--Will do....Bill
Comment By Craig Moore, 3-26-07Bill, I'll do the same to some other mover and shakers. We don't need to pay for the say experience twice.
Comment By AB, 3-27-07According to the link, entrance fees in Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks don't change at all over the 4-year period. Neither do per-person or per-vehicle fees in Glacier NP.
Comment By Bill Schneider, 3-27-07Yes, AB, that's correct. Yellowstone and Grand Teton raised their fews one or two years ago to what seems to be the target price for big parks, $50 annual pass, $25 per vehicle, and $12 per person.....Bill
Comment By David Mayfield, 3-27-07I live about 45 miles from Yellowstone and consider my annual pass (normally shown from a bike, not a car) to be an unbelieveable bargin. I am originally from East TN. Why does the NPS not charge for the Great Smoky MTN NP and many others? Even at what I consider a bargin, I feel I am subsidizing many others. David
Comment By Monty, 3-29-07I am willing pay to use national parks, which are a bargin, when compared to many other activities like transportation to the park, hotel fees, eating out, etc. It is remarkable how millions of citizens lose billions of dollars gambling & when it comes to paying taxes for police, highway maintenance, parks & such they squell like stuck pigs.
Comment By Sherry, 5-07-07I oppose the increase in park entrance fees, it would limit the time myself and others could enjoy the park and help national parks become vacation spots for those in the upper income bracket.
Currently less fortunate folks (which are most Montanans) can enjoy our parks, which are suppose to be for everyone.
Montanans are rapidly becoming service industry workers for those owning summer/vacation homes, yet living elsewhere, please don't add to this travesty.
Having been a single parent without the benefit of child support, the national parks were one place I could afford to take my daughter on vacations. Please don't price majority of citizens out of their national parks and make them into playgrounds for only the affluent, there are already too many places catering to the wealthy and forgetting the rest of this countries citizens!