Citizens Fight for National Parks with Upcoming Rallies
National Park lovers will gather at Shenandoah National Park to protest budget cuts that threaten America’s natural treasures. Two rallies are planned for May 10 and May 17 at the Dickey Ridge Visitor Center.
The events will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and park entrance fees will be waived for those attending. Just tell the ranger you’re there for a First Amendment rally.
Slower emergency responses
“These cuts don’t just mean fewer park rangers”, said organizer Michele House. “They mean slower emergency responses, the closure of trails and visitor centers, the loss of educational and scientific programs, and even things like dirty restrooms and overflowing trash cans.”
The Royal Examiner writes that organizers have been spreading the word throughout local communities in the Shenandoah region by distributing handouts at churches, hiking trails, and volunteer groups.
Grassroots efforts
The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) supports these grassroots efforts. Joy Oakes, NPCA’s Director for the Mid-Atlantic Region, stated: “Our national parks are being asked to do more with less every year. These kinds of grassroots rallies are a powerful way to show Congress and the public that Americans care deeply about protecting our parks and the services they provide.”
House emphasized that protecting parks isn’t about politics: “When you lose funding for basic upkeep, you don’t just lose clean bathrooms. You lose wildlife monitoring, wildfire prevention, trail access, youth education programs, and critical research that helps fight climate change.”
The rallies come as Congress debates future funding for park agencies, with over $22 billion in maintenance already delayed across the National Park System.
