State Parks: State run or federally underrun?

Since 1916, the American people have entrusted the National Park Service with the care of their national parks. With the help of volunteers and park partners, nearly 400 places are safeguarded in an effort to share their stories with more than 275 million visitors every year.

National Park Service by the Numbers

$48,000,000,000 incentivized in private historic preservation investment

11,700,000,000 visitors

$5,409,252,508 in preservation and outdoor recreation grants awarded

$2,750,000,000 annual budget

121,603,193 objects in museum collections

97,417,260 volunteer hours

84,000,000 acres of land

4,502,644 acres of oceans, lakes, reservoirs

2,482,104 volunteers

218,000 jobs supported in gateway communities

85,049 miles of perennial rivers and streams

68,561 archeological sites

43,162 miles of shoreline

28,000 employees

27,000 historic structures

2,461 national historic landmarks

582 national natural landmarks

400 endangered species

391 national parks

40 national heritage areas

Comments

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#1 ScottE on 09/25/09 at 10:40 AM

National and State parks are true public resources. Recreation that Re Creates one's peach.

I put some comments in Breaking News story about how much I like the State Parks but that I believe the $5 parking fee to use public property is too much.

I believe in supporting these resources. We visit them just about everywhere we go, and pay in many places. It is typically 7 days for $10, not too bad. And I believe the Nat'l Park Service holds costs down pretty well as they are typically more "bare bones" than State Parks. There are no showers in NP campgrounds, unless provided by concessionaires and they tend to be less groomed than State Parks.

We are fortunate to have one of the best not too far away in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. And are even more fortunate the park was mandated to be perpetually free to visit (part of a brokered deal with the states and citizens for incorporating private and state land). You can go from well developed historic or recreational sites to true back country hiking.

Like most people we go to national and state parks to enjoy nature. And while some development is necessary, I personally believe the less developed we leave these places the better off we all will be.

I can't express in words the blissful peace of strolling through some of the most beautiful spots in this country and how rejuvenated I feel afterwards. To me these wild spaces, that are open to all, are true national treasures. I am just thankful I can visit some special places where condos and tourist malls have not beat me there.

#1.1 Psycho on 09/25/09 at 02:07 PM

I agree. I too love state parks. I just love the woods and river period.

#2 Anonymous on 09/25/09 at 08:17 PM

Our state and national parks are the great unknown. We go as much as possible. Its too bad so many people miss out by not taking advantage of them to get a full understanding of what is available and what they have to offer. They are the best - they are AMERICA.

#3 Facts on 09/26/09 at 12:42 AM

What does the national parks service and their federal parks have to do with Georgia State parks? They are seperately run, national by the US Parks Service, State by the Ga. DNR. A cut in funding by the state won't affect a National park. US parks will be fine, Obammer will just print up some more money to keep them going.

Might want to do a tad more research before posting such, can't do it accurately using just emotion.

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