Freudenthal: National parks are underfunded
After cooling off in the movie theater this summer, take your kids to the park to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service. For 100 years, parks have stimulated local economies and protected wild environments.
In 2015, national park visitors contributed nearly $16.9 billion in spending during visits to parks throughout the U.S. Unfortunately, our parks are still underfunded and undervalued by the government each year. As well some of our national park treasures like the Grand Canyon and the Everglades face the threat of new legislation that would allow for drilling and mining in these areas.
We must reach out to Senator Kaine to thank him for his support of the public park system but also urge the senator to continue championing national and local park issues. Given the risks that our parks face we need to increase support and attention to our public lands.
When adventuring with your kids this summer in our natural playgrounds, remember to speak out and support the National Park Service!
