National parks caught in the crosshairs of government shutdown : NPR

Since the Congress remains at a dead end in accordance with the agreement on financing state operations, several sites within the framework of the National Parks service (NP) stopped their activities.

Throughout the country, the parks were forced to close, work under reduced personnel or rely on external donations to keep the light on when the shutdown extends on the fourth day.

The lack of a single plan in all parks and rare details set forth by official government resources caused confusion in which places could visit the park, or if the stop forced the sites to temporarily close their services.

“National parks remain as accessible as possible during the closure of the federal government,” – a notification of NPS website Reads.

“However, some services can be limited or inaccessible,” he continues, with readers' transfer to the site with the site with plans for unforeseen circumstances A presentation of how the funds will be assigned during disconnection.

The plan for unforeseen circumstances for NPS states that park roads, viewing platforms and paths “usually remain accessible to visitors” throughout the shutdown, but other services, such as ordinary road updates and the condition of the path.

“As part of their orderly closing measures, Park employees will publish signs notifying visitors that only basic services, service or other management events will be carried out, and emergency services will be limited,” the plan said.

In some places of the park that collect fees, the memorandum provides that basic services can be provided, such as those that support toilets, collect garbage and maintenance.

But in some closed places of the park, services will be divided to bones, including without a collection of garbage, toilets, road or suitable for passage or information about visitors.

NPR turned to NPS on Saturday for comment, but did not receive an answer.

States will intervene and donations for some relief

Several states took their hands to make sure their parks remain open during the federal financing quarrel, or directly financing the sites themselves, or collecting third -party reliefs to help keep the doors open.

In accordance with National Parks TravelerParks in the States, including West Virginia, Ute and Hawaii, managed to get funds and donations necessary for the temporary operation of operations.

Visitors in other states were not so lucky.

Katie Ten Aik flew out of Jutika, New York, in New Mexico to visit the brilliant dunes of the White Sands National Park. Instead, she was met with a notice of closing.

“I just could not wait – I could not wait – to get here,” Ten Eik said. “We stopped in [PistachioLand] Right on the street, and where we heard that it was closed. “

Katie Terio was also with a wicked grief outside the New Mexico Park. She expelled her children for more than five hours from their house in Taos and hoped that they could experience the white sands that she remembered since childhood.

“I have been waiting for 10 years to show my children white sands, and the day when we came, it is closed, which is very disappointed,” Teriot said.

“But it’s really very sad that we get to the road to enjoy part of our country, because our elected officials cannot get along.”

Vandalism and safety problems

Fear of safety and responsibility for maintaining open parks, without a reliable number of employees available for critical services, were also revealed.

Some of the famous national parks of Texas, such as the national coast of the Big Bend and Padre -Alend, will remain open during this time, but may have limited personnel, according to Texas public radio (TPR).

The previous closure of the government, reports TPR, saw the ancient rock in the Big Bend, broken from the absence of a personnel schedule.

These fears made some supporters of the park recommend all parks with a reduction in force until federal funding is sorted.

“Maintaining the opening of our national parks after Trump and Republicans forced the government stopping stupid, short-sighted and incredibly dangerous,” said Stefani Kurosa, deputy director for state affairs at the center of biological diversity, in statementField

“We saw irreparable damage that can happen when our parks will become undeveloped. Vandalism, garbage and human waste will stain natural treasures that are the envy of the world. But, obviously, nothing says “make America again the great” as the transformation of the Yosemit into one giant toilet. ”

During The last state closurewhich began in December 2018 during the previous administration of Trump and lasted a record 35 days, some of the favorite national parks of America reported a significant damage, including California National Park Joshua Threewho saw the trees hit, and the new roads illegally dug up.

The National Association for Parks (NPCA) also called for the closure of the parks, referring to past problems during the closure of the government, which led to vandalism, sanitation and environmental harm.

“The government has ceased, and the administration again at risk of our national parks and visitors, actually sending employees to open the park and leave,” said the president and executive director of NPCA Teresa Pierce statementThe field “This is not just irresponsible, it is dangerous.”

Ava Pukatch from NPR contributed to this report.