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A Department of Interior advisory committee entirely made up of representatives of recreation heavyweights like Aramark and KOA has released a memo recommending that National Park Campgrounds be turned over to private industry to operate for profit. The memo calls for wifi, food trucks, mobile camp stores, and eliminating Senior camping discounts during peak seasons. In media interviews, the committee’s Vice Chairman, Derrick Crandall (who proudly takes credit for inventing Fee Demo back in the day) has even suggested that some campsites should be designated for receiving overnight Amazon shipments – for an extra fee, of course. We’ve been warning about this for decades, but this time the media is actually paying attention.

2019_12_02_LA_Times_Editorial_Privatization_Is_Absurd

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2019_11_15_MOnline_Privatization_in_National_Parks

2019_11_14_Connecticut_Welcome_To_Golden_Arches_National_Park

2019_11_07_Fresno_Bee_Whats_Next_Gondola_Up_Halfdome

2019_11_05_LA_Times_Editorial

2019_11_04_LA_Times_On_Park_Privatization

2019_11_04_USA_Today_on_NPS_Privatization_of_Campgrounds

2019_10_21_Outside_Online_Plan_Would_Make_Camping_Worse

2019_10_11_The_Hill_on_ORAC_Recommendations

2019_10_11_Plans to Privatize National Parks Outlined in Trump Admin Memo Would Enrich Donors Special Interests

Where is the greatest threat of privatizing federal land coming from? Hint: its initials are U.S.F.S.

2019 07 04 Los Padres NF Letting Private Concessionaires Run Amok At Big Sur

Got a pretty place on public land that is getting overcrowded? I know, let’s price the poor people out! Yeah, that’s a good idea!

2019_04_28_The_Price_of_Popularity

Outside Magazine on Wyoming’s proposal to charge all hikers $10 a year on both state and federal land. The author says user fees don’t work. Well duh. We’ve been telling you that since 1996!

2018 10 31 Outside Magazine

Overwhelming public opposition to the Park Service’s proposal to more than double entry fees at the most popular parks during their busiest seasons had caused the agency to back off – for now. But they are licking their wounds and will come out fighting.

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2018_04_02_Washington_Post_Americans_Tell_NPS_To_Take_A_Hike

After years of persistent efforts by local equestrians, the Wayne National Forest is backing down from their long time requirement that horseback riders and mountain bikers purchase a Trail Permit. Public comment was overwhelmingly in favor of this long overdue change, and it is expected to receive approval by the Recreation Resource Advisory Committee on April 21, 2018. In anticipation of that likely approval, the Forest Supervisor has administratively suspended the requirement.

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From Outside Magazine, a reminder that history repeats itself.

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The USFS ranks near the very bottom on ratings of the best places to work in the federal government. This article describes why, and recreation fees are part of the answer.

2018_03_27_Plummeting_Morale_In_The_Forest_Service

BLM has raised the entry fee for Red Rock Canyon, near Las Vegas. Oh wait. They are prohibited from charging an “entrance fee.” Except you have to pay it to enter.

2018 02 20 Red Rock Fees Increased

NPS wants to increase entry fees at 17 parks to $70 during peak season. This is “surge pricing” just like Uber charges on New Years Eve. Should the best places at the most desirable times be available only to the wealthy few?
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