I’m a big fan of parks and green spaces. Maybe this is because I grew up in the country. But while I love the amenities that the City has to offer, there’s something ultimately satisfying about taking a walk along a tree lined alley, clamoring over boulders to see what’s on the other side and yes, occasionally stepping over a venomous snake of death (okay, it was really a nonpoisonous Northern water snake but it felt like a venomous snake of death).
We’re lucky in the US to have a fairly significant system of local, state, and national parks. They come in all shapes and sizes. And they’re largely funded with taxpayer dollars.
I try to patronize as many as I can. In fact, we’re traipsing up to go camping in one of our state parks this weekend… I figure since we have them, why not use them?
The Department of the Interior realizes that taxpayers may be feeling the crunch this summer and might skip national parks as a vacation site. In an effort to stimulate travel, all 147 National Park Service sites that charge entry fees will waive them for three weekends this summer.
The fee-free weekends are:
- June 20-21, 2009 (Father’s Day weekend – hint, hint)
- July 18-19, 2009
- August 15-16, 2009
Some parks have gone even further and are offering additional savings throughout the summer.
Originally created in 1916, the NPS now comprises 390 areas covering more than 84 million acres in 49 States (sorry, Delaware), the District of Columbia, and a number of US territories.
In 2007, the NPS had a budget of $2.289 billion dollars, with revenues of just over $300 million. However, the NPS is estimated to bring more than $10 billion dollars to local economies each year. With a nod to those numbers, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced the NPS promotion by saying:
National parks also serve as powerful economic engines for local communities, and we hope that promoting visitation will give a small shot in the arm to businesses in the area.
In a year when many small businesses are struggling, consider paying a visit to your local park – and buy an ice cream or bird book from a local merchant. Think of it as your own stimulus package.
