Comment on Planning
Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2007 3:26 pm
This posting is archived from the old forum:
Author: Brad Thomas
Date: 04-28-01 14:53
I have just reviewed the Sierra Clubs proposals for the Yosemite
Valley and while I aggree with the some of their proposals I really
must question their apparent desire to make Yosemite (as well as all
National Parks) unavailable to the majority of US citizens. There is a
very difficult problem facing the National Park Service, interpreting
the meaning of the charter they function under. How to preserve Nature
and make it available to the average citizen at the same time. The
Sierra Club seems to feel that the proper solution is to close off all
access to everyone who can't spend a week or more backpacking into a
National Park to take a few pictures and then Backpack back out.
Certainly, allowing commercial developement in a National Park is in
most cases, not going to be beneficial to the ecosystem or the Park
itself, but, to refuse to alow the restoration of existing campsites,
hotels, etc. because it is convienint to use a natural disaster as an
excuse, is simply trying to obstruct the access of the handicaped and
elderly, to name a few, from their right to visit these parks in a
timely fashion. Yes the National Parks are not Theme Parks, but there
must be a more balanced solution to this issue.
- Brad Thomas
halfdome at hotmail dot com
Author: Brad Thomas
Date: 04-28-01 14:53
I have just reviewed the Sierra Clubs proposals for the Yosemite
Valley and while I aggree with the some of their proposals I really
must question their apparent desire to make Yosemite (as well as all
National Parks) unavailable to the majority of US citizens. There is a
very difficult problem facing the National Park Service, interpreting
the meaning of the charter they function under. How to preserve Nature
and make it available to the average citizen at the same time. The
Sierra Club seems to feel that the proper solution is to close off all
access to everyone who can't spend a week or more backpacking into a
National Park to take a few pictures and then Backpack back out.
Certainly, allowing commercial developement in a National Park is in
most cases, not going to be beneficial to the ecosystem or the Park
itself, but, to refuse to alow the restoration of existing campsites,
hotels, etc. because it is convienint to use a natural disaster as an
excuse, is simply trying to obstruct the access of the handicaped and
elderly, to name a few, from their right to visit these parks in a
timely fashion. Yes the National Parks are not Theme Parks, but there
must be a more balanced solution to this issue.
- Brad Thomas
halfdome at hotmail dot com