NEWS RELEASES
Some Parks Remain Open, Others Lock Gates During Government Shutdown
Editor's Note: This news item was retrieved and first published through The Associated Press' website.
NEW YORK, NY - The Associated Press (AP) reports wide differences in access to National Parks across the nation as the government shutdown continues through the holidays. “During the government shutdown national parks will remain as accessible as possible,” National Park Service (NPS) spokesman Jeremy Barnum told the AP. NPS guidelines require furloughing everyone except personnel needed for the protection of life, property, and public health and safety, and suspending any visitor services, including closing visitor centers and restrooms, although Barnum pointed out that wilderness-type vault toilets are still available.
Many parks remain open for hiking and camping but offer no services. At some, states, non-profit groups or local government are providing funds to keep these major tourist destinations open during the critical holiday season. Among these are the Grand Canyon, funded by the state of Arizona; the Statue of Liberty, funded by New York State; Arches, Bryce Canyon and Zion national parks, funded by the state of Utah; and the USS Arizona Memorial in Hawaii, funded by non-profit organizations. Yosemite concessions, including hotels, restaurants, stores and gas stations, remain open, although visitor centers are closed and campgrounds unstaffed. Snow covered roads will not be plowed causing some roads within parks to be closed, including those in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, Crater Lake in Oregon, Mount Rainier in Washington and others.
While NPS websites will not be updated during the shutdown, the AP is compiling stories about parks across the country on a special webpage, found here. Read the complete NPS contingency plan for shutdowns here.
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