Big fee increases may be in the future...

[daveparker]

Deb got hers a few years ago when she turned 62 and I have a lifetime disabled pass, so we are pretty much set.

One thing to know, you don't have to purchase your pass at a park, you can also purchase the senior pass at any US Forest Service office.

[glacierfever]

The Kansas / North Carolina thing is simply a way of showing the idioacy of different fee amounts for different citizens..just because they live close(r) to the park. I even question the appropriateness of the lifetime pass at 62. The total local economy around the park benefits from the tourism, even those who don't directly receive a pay check from a tourism type employment. Anyone who doesn't understand this hasn't objectively considered the facts. Some locals have an entitlement attitude that since they live close by, were born and raised there, lived there longer than someone else , etc. etc. that they should receive some special deals. It is a trash argument. If they need more money, go work where there is more money. There are tons of free places to hike, picnic, etc. around the Flathead valley. But of course, most local Flathead residents know you can enter the park for free through the Camas Creek entry. A daily admission fee that anyone, from anywhere, can purchase may be a good idea. But I believe it should be $25, at least. Even though some don't like to hear it but the entry fee is a business decision on the part of NPS. I have paid full admission for around 35 years and have been happy to do so.

One suggestion is a box that let's you divert tax dollars from the defense budget to the NPS. Wow, what a concept! Let's just make sure all of the expeditures of the federal government are run through the same check box process. Be careful what you wish for. Without our national defense we wouldn't be able to enjoy these wonderful parks.

[PJ]

FWIW my husband and I turned 62 and purchased our senior passes early this summer. Hubby lost his entire wallet (with pass) in Grand Teton in July. He went in to replace it - and no dice. They do not keep records and re-issue lost passes. You have to purchase an entirely new pass. Guard them with your life!

[Selkie]

Comment period extended through December 22:
https://parkplanning.nps.gov/document.c ... =474491177

Friends of Acadia (NP) posted a long, principled response, which others might find useful in crafting a comment:
https://friendsofacadia.org/news/offici ... =474491177

Some extracts:

We think it will take innovative legislation, better federal appropriations, National Park Service policy changes, partnership contributions, volunteer support, and smaller fee increases to fully address the deferred maintenance backlog.

Years of chronic underfunding by Congress created the deferred maintenance backlog in our national parks. Even if the proposed fee increases were implemented in 2018, the projected $70 million increase in revenues would be eliminated by the proposed $93 million cuts to the maintenance funding for the National Park Service proposed by the current Administration in the FY 2018 budget. It is counterintuitive for a fee increase to be suggested at the same time that both the operations and the maintenance budgets are being slashed.

[spinnaker]

are you saying that all the parks should be charging $80-100 per vehicle, or more? Adjusted for inflation that might be reasonable... But that still means our National Parks become a playground for the rich, is that what we want?

Maybe we could start having bake-sales or charity auctions to help create a fund to help poor people get admission to our National Parks, or to pay for trail maintenance....

PLENTY of people pay more than that to visit amusement parks and they are far from rich. $100 isn't a lot of money these days. If you have the money to travel to and even stay near a National Park than $100 or $200 isn't going to break the bank.

[thorn726]

Fortunately the plans have been rescinded and the expected increases are more in the $10-15 range.

[mattB]

are you saying that all the parks should be charging $80-100 per vehicle, or more? Adjusted for inflation that might be reasonable... But that still means our National Parks become a playground for the rich, is that what we want?

Maybe we could start having bake-sales or charity auctions to help create a fund to help poor people get admission to our National Parks, or to pay for trail maintenance....

PLENTY of people pay more than that to visit amusement parks and they are far from rich. $100 isn't a lot of money these days. If you have the money to travel to and even stay near a National Park than $100 or $200 isn't going to break the bank.

What about locals that live near a park, but don't have money to travel, and don't have $100 to spend for a weekend entrance into the park?

[daveparker]

It is a moot point at this time, they did not follow through with that particular plan.