According to a news item on CNN.com, by this weekend national parks in Utah will be open: Arches, Bryce Canyon (right), Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Zion.
An Associated Press article reports: “So far, Utah, Colorado, South Dakota, Arizona and New York have jumped at the deal. Governors in other states were trying to gauge Friday what would be the bigger economic hit — paying to keep the parks operating or losing the tourist money that flows when the scenic attractions are open.”
“Utah agrees to pay the National Park Service (NPS) up to $1.67 million— $166,572 per day—to re-open eight national sites in Utah for up to 10 days. If the federal government shutdown ends before then, the State will receive a refund of unused monies” an official press statement explained.
“Utah’s national parks are the backbone of many rural economies and hard-working Utahns are paying a heavy price for this shutdown,” Utah’s Governor Gary Herbert said in the released statement. “I commend (U.S. Department of the Interior) Secretary (Sally) Jewell for being open to Utah’s solution, and the world should know Utah is open for business and visitors are welcome.”
You can urge your members of Congress to re-open our national parks and support full funding for the Park Service by taking action on NPCA’s website and calling your your representatives at the Capitol Switchboard: 202.224.3121 (the number may be busy). Or, if you are not sure who your representatives are? Look them up on NPCA’s website where their direct phone numbers are listed.
Photos: Bryce Canyon National Park; Capitol Reef National Park Visitor Center will reopen by Saturday. (Julianne G. Crane)
