One of the things I remember about my early trips to the national parks is the freedom of the hills. I was showing a beautiful canyon, off the Tuolumne river in Yosemite, to a friend who had never gone hiking in the wilderness before. He asked me if it was possible to hike down this promsing-looking canyon. When I pointed out that park land was just for that purpose, to enjoy nature, at one’s own pace, and that there were thousands of beautiful canyons in the Sierras that had been set aside for that purpose, I could see that this was a revelation for my friend. The wheels were turning. He had never realized just how great hiking could be. It was like a door had opened in his brain! Ever since that weekend hiking/camping trip, he has become a hiker and backpacker.
I have always believed that people really need to enjoy themselves out of doors, particularly in natural areas. I am sure that most, if not all, the visitors to this web page are here because they feel the same way, and are here for information about Point Reyes National Seashore, to look at photographs, download trail maps and the like. As web surfers, you have computers and modems to read this. This makes you a somewhat affluent group. But do the poorer among you ever have problems paying for the use of parks; the entrance fees, the backpacking permits and the campground fees? Do you wake up at dawn in a campground to sneak off from a campground host?
Poor people cannot afford to pay the admission fees to use and camp in both national and state parks. Think of the teenagers and students whose first trips away from home are summer camping trips. Let’s say a carload of kids, out of high school or college, decides to go off to see the national parks. If they stay in campgrounds at $15 a night and go out for a month, that’s about $450 in camping fees. Add some entrance fees to that and the price is looking more like apartment rent than pocket change. What about someone who has lost their job and needs to get away for a few days to re-group? Since parks heal people, physically through exercise and fresh air, and through stress reduction, they are a necessity for the well being of folks who are at-risk, from the wear and tear of urban living.
The idea of free parks, like Central Park in NYC for example, is an old ideal, perhaps stemming from the exclusion of the commoners from the great estates of the nobles in Europe. The idea that land could be owned in common by the people of a community, and every person could have access to it, at least in partnership with others, is a simple one and one that led to the establishment of the national park service, and the system of state, county and regional parks. The benefits are obvious. The imposition of fees to use these parks seems to be an accelerating trend in the last few years. It is a terrible idea to charge for park use, and one the should be abolished. The public has paid for these lands with their taxes. They belong to the public.
Everyone benefits from parks, not just the users. People who don’t go, can’t backpack, still at least know that the parks are there. It’s a mental release from the strain of life, an escape. We all know that some Americans have violent tendencies; parks can cool us out. Exclude people who can’t pay, and violence will increase.
The earth is at risk because of global warming, species extinction, pollution and the other horrors, right? Well, building an electorate which believes that the environment matters starts with park visits. If you’re a nature lover, recycler, etc., how did you become one? I’ll bet it was through visiting a park like Yosemite. If your parents couldn’t afford to take you camping or even go on a picnic, imagine what that would have done to your beliefs.
Some people think that if park fees are high, it will preserve the parks by keeping out poor people – “They throw garbage around”. When Republicans are in office, we notice that park fees increase. What’s a few extra dollars for rich people? Excluding people because they are ignorant of park etiquette is not the answer, education is! If rangers weren’t running around hunting down fee-dodgers they could spend their time teaching people how to enjoy parks responsibly. Park values have to be taught.
Who will pay for the parks? One ranger said to me, “if we had no backpacking fees, where would people go to the bathroom?” The expense of the parks is a tiny part of the US, state or local budgets. There could also be a voluntary collection of donations at park entrances. People who really love an area could endow a park.
At the very least if a visitor can state, “I can’t afford this fee”, the ranger should say, “Welcome, our parks are for everyone, come on in!”
- Richard Blair Inverness, California 7/23/03