On December, 28, 2016 National Park Service Director Jonathan Jarvis invited the concrete jungle into our national parks by approving Director’s Order #21. The law drops the intent of our parks - to remain wild and free of commercialism - and now welcomes commercialism and industry into our parks with naming rights. Beer ad on a park bench? A McDonald's Visitor Center?
The majority of public comments said "no" to corporate advertising but apparently corporate money drowned out voices of reason.
And the law.
In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson created the National Park Service. The Organic Act states that "the Service thus established shall promote and regulate the use of the Federal areas known as national parks, monuments and reservations…by such means and measures as conform to the fundamental purpose of the said parks, monuments and reservations, which purpose is to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations."
For going against the spirit of the national parks, I feel Jarvis must read every book, poem, song, and law about the wilderness. What I perceive as poor judgment from Jarvis didn't start last month.
In January 2015, Jarvis allowed the national parks to partner with alcoholic beverage companies by signing a waiver. The National Park Foundation then accepted $2.5 million from Anheuser-Busch as a "premier partner" for the National Park Service centennial campaign. The excuse was the parks' outreach to young people. How about the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of America and the Sierra Club?
In June 2016, Jarvis apologized for his unethical behavior publishing a book about the national parks without going through the proper channels. You can read about his apology here.
Again, the majority of public comments on Director's Order #21 were negative: The people did not want commercialism in our national parks. Are we going to ignore this outcome?
Mike Reynolds is the new acting director of the National Park Service. I feel we the people deserve acknowledgment, an apology, and a reversal of Director's Order #21.
“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity”
― John Muir, Our National Parks
I love the national parks, and write about them often. Read about California's Point Reyes National Seashore and its Tule Elk Reserve here and Alaska's Denali National Park here.
Until next time, breathe easy and make life an adventure! Let's go! Out of Los Angeles and into the world, chasing clean air, beauty, and a sustainable life! FACEBOOK LIKE Chasing Clean Air
