National Parks Forced to Stay Open Despite Staff Shortages
Interior Secretary Douglas Burgum has ordered all national parks to remain ‘open and accessible’ to visitors, even with recent staffing cuts. The April 3 mandate requires park managers to get approval before reducing hours or closing facilities.
Some think this move will help parks hire more staff. However, others worry it creates dangerous situations at understaffed locations.
Hugely problematic
“The way that it’s written is hugely problematic”, Kristen Brengel, senior vice president of the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) told Outside, writes Outside Magazine. “You can’t wait for a political appointee in Washington D.C. to get back to you on a closure you need to make right now.”
Brengel pointed to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, where Kilauea is currently erupting. “Park superintendents need to be nimble in order to keep visitors safe,” she said.
Ensure visitor satisfaction
Rachel Pawlitz from the National Park Service sees the order differently, calling it good for parks: “It’s not unusual for the staffing needs to fluctuate. This order spells out a process that will allow us to coordinate closely with leadership in the Interior Department to meet the evolving needs of our visitors, adapting as needed, to ensure visitor satisfaction.”
The order comes after major cuts at the National Park Service. Since February, over 1,000 employees were let go, with another 700 taking buyouts. Some parks have already had to cut programs or reduce hours.
Labyrinth
Arches National Park in Utah closed its popular Fiery Furnace area in March due to staff shortages. Park spokesperson Karen Hanker explained: “The Fiery Furnace is a labyrinth, and one sprained ankle can trigger a rescue. And that’s five hours and ten staff people to carry someone out.”
One anonymous park ranger expressed serious concerns: “Sure we can keep everything open. But who wants to recreate in a park with broken down facilities and no maintenance and no search and rescue?”
