National Park 2019 Visitation Reaches More Than 327 Million
by National Parks Traveler | February 27, 2020
“More than 327 million visitors descended on the National Park System in 2019, a number that is seen as the third-highest single year tally dating to 1904, yet the head count comes at a time when some parks are overcrowded, National Park Service ranks are depleted, and Congress ...
Musing From The Parks | Hunting Bandelier, Employee Housing, Smith’s Job
by National Parks Traveler | February 24, 2020
“If you’re paying attention, the press release touting the effort of U.S. Martin Heinrich of New Mexico to rebrand Bandelier National Monument as a national park sounds noble. It’s what he’s not publicly promoting in that legislation that you should to pay attention ...
PEER Claims Administration’s Use Of “Acting” Positions Creating Leadership Vacuum In NPS
by National Parks Traveler | February 19, 2020
“The Trump administration has gone three years without a Senate-confirmed director of the National Park Service and filled many jobs with ‘acting’ positions, a practice that Public Employees For Environmental Responsibility claims has created a ‘leadership vacuum&# ...
Interior Secretary Bernhardt Seems To Have Tailored A Job For P. Daniel Smith
by National Parks Traveler | February 16, 2020
“When P. Daniel Smith walked away from his job as deputy director of the National Park Service last fall, he didn’t walk back into retirement but rather into a position Interior Secretary David Bernhardt created for Smith that just happened to be based in Smith’s hometown ...
PEER Alleges P. Daniel Smith Received Sweetheart Deal From National Park Service
by National Parks Traveler | February 13, 2020
“National Park Service officials have declined to respond to allegations that P. Dan Smith, who was brought out of retirement by former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to effectively be director of the National Park Service, was given a sweetheart deal last fall when he stepped down to ...
