The National Parks in Utah and others around the U.S. could get some much-needed maintenance and additional staff if Congress approves a proposed budget under consideration. John Garder, the budget and appropriations director for the National Parks Conservation Association, said Interior Secretary Sally Jewell is asking Congress to up National Park Service funding by more than $400 million, an increase of more than 10 percent. After years of recession-related budget cuts, Garder said the parks are in pretty rough shape and need help.
"Improvements to trails, restoring trails that are crumbling," Garder said. "Improvements to visitor centers where they have out-of-date programs, leaking roofs, bathrooms that are decaying and other needs."
Garder said some parks have deteriorated to the point of causing dangerous conditions for visitors. He said there is more than $30 million of "deferred maintenance" at Bryce Canyon alone. Similar circumstances exist at Arches, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, and Zion nationals parks.
Garder said maintaining and improving the parks is critical because they are huge economic drivers. He said the numbers from 2013 tell the story.
"In Utah, nearly nine million visitors spent nearly $600 million," Garder said. "And that supported more than 9,000 private-sector jobs."
Countrywide, Garder said national parks contributed about $27 billion to the U.S. economy in 2013 and supported nearly a quarter of a million jobs.