10 Things National Parks Won't Tell You

FOR BUDGET-MINDED adventurers planning their vacation, America’s 391 national parks and historical sites are a big draw. Roughly 275 million visitors a year trek to such natural wonders as the Grand Canyon or landmarks like the Statue of Liberty. Unfortunately, their popularity is a double-edged sword, as the wear and tear caused by
so many visitors leads to increased maintenance requirements—and costs.

Keeping these sites in top condition is the job of the National Park Service, a bureau of the Department of the Interior. But the sheer number it’s responsible for, coupled with long-term underfunding, has left a $9 billion backlog of maintenance projects. This year’s operating budget of $2.13 billion—plus $920 million in stimulus money—will help. But the creation of new parks and sites only compounds the problem, says Jeff Ruch, executive director of the Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility. In the past 20 years, the number has grown by 13 percent, to 391. And don’t ask the Park Service to pick and choose. All the parks and sites are equally important, says Park Service spokesperson David Barna, since they “contribute to what defines us as Americans.”