Nov. 23 is the deadline for commenting on a proposal to raise the cost of getting into 17 national parks, including the Olympic National Park.
If approved, starting May 1, 2018, the cost of an …
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Nov. 23 is the deadline for commenting on a proposal to raise the cost of getting into 17 national parks, including the Olympic National Park.
If approved, starting May 1, 2018, the cost of an annual pass would go from $50 to $75. From May to September, fees would be $70 to get into the park with a vehicle, instead of the current $25, $30 for a person to enter the park on foot or bike, instead of the current $10 fee, and $50 instead of $20 to arrive by motorcycle.
In a press release, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke said that there is a need to fix the parks’ aging infrastructure and that the money raised from the fees would go to deferred maintenance projects.
In the Olympic National Park, it’s been estimated that there is $152 million worth of projects.
There’s no doubt that infrastructure in the park is aging. Infrastructure everywhere in the U.S. is failing. And frankly, something should have been done about it before this.
What is concerning about the park proposal is that it could effectively stop middle-class Americans from enjoying the wonders of these 17 parks, including the one in our backyard. That’s a serious concern.
In 2016, the Olympic National Park recorded 3.39 million visitors. Many of those visitors stopped in Jefferson County and enjoyed state and local parks – as well as our restaurants and shops – before moseying over to the Hoh and Quinault rain forests.
If entry fees rise – in some cases, more than double – it’s possible some people won’t come, and those who do will have much less money to spend locally. Consequently, this proposal could have an adverse economic impact on Jefferson and Clallam counties.
Whether you support or oppose the fees, the deadline to comment is Nov. 23.
If you have thoughts on the subject, now is the time to share them by checking out the park’s website, which includes a fact sheet and a place to comment. Go online to
tinyurl.com/y9toz3q2.
We don’t want to see the parks to deteriorate. We also don’t want to see people excluded from enjoying them.
— Allison Arthur
