National Parks Research Paper

Funding National Parks in the United States “America’s best idea” is a fitting name for the National Park Service: it protects natural resources, promotes outdoor learning, and allows for Americans to experience America’s majestic beauty and wonders of nature. Unfortunately, The NPS budget has been getting smaller and smaller, leaving barely enough money to withstand the millions of visitors the Parks get each year. A simple one-part solution won’t cut it; rather a combination of a restructured entrance fee, tax changes, and increased public-private relations will be needed in order to ensure the preservation of the National Parks “For the Benefit and Enjoyment of the People.”
Solutions
Restructured Entrance Fee
Problems. Recently the National Park Service proposed a rate increase for entrance passes. The proposal would increase entrance fees from $25 and $30 per vehicle to $70 per vehicle in the seven most popular parks for a weeklong pass during the peak five months (Associated Press, 2017). While this dramatic increase would help to provide part of the necessary funding to preserve the NPS,
In 1885 the statue was lying in pieces in New York, but because the US had failed to gather money for a pedestal, the statue couldn't be assembled. In order to fund the pedestal, the publisher John Pulitzer launched a fundraising campaign in his newspaper, The New York World. In just five months, and with most donations of less than a dollar, The New York World raised over $100,000, enough to fund the pedestal and give a gift back to France (Davies, 2013). In today’s dollars, that’s $2,471,674.29 that was raised in less than six months. A crowdfunding project—like the one for the Statue of Liberty’s pedestal—for the National Park Service today has the potential to be a very successful method for increasing the influence of philanthropic donations in the NPS