National park visitation has increased since 2019 and Gov. Spencer Cox wants the federal government to increase park funding for care and maintenance.
As part of the Western Governors’ Association, Cox with the support of New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, signed his name on a bipartisan letter to support a vast range of outdoor recreation legislation. The letter was sent to Senate Leaders by the WGA of which Grisham is the chair and Cox is the vice chair.
The letter encouraged the Senate to approve increased funding for visitor facilities, infrastructure, workers, management planning and worker housing. This increased funding would provide support for issues caused by overcrowding in the parks and asked federal agencies to spread visitors to less congested areas.
These federal agencies own and manage almost two-thirds of Utah’s land. Since Utah is home to the Mighty Five national parks — Arches, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, and Zion — it is a hotspot for tourism, wildlife sightings and nature exploration.
According to the National Park Service, the parks experienced over 325 million visits last year. As the visits have grown, so has the cost of maintaining the parks.
The proposed budget for park maintenance in 2024 was $3.8 billion, an increase of $289 million more compared to 2023. This budget provides funding for resources, visitor services, park protection, park support and facility operations and maintenance.
Currently, the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund “provides the National Park Service with up to $1.3 billion each year to address extensive and long overdue maintenance and repair needs in national parks.” The WGA asked Congress to finance this Fund beyond the allotted 2025 deadline.
The budget additions provide the NPS means to improve tourism in the parks for upcoming years. For more information regarding budgets and park visitation, visit nps.gov.
Author: Anna Mower
Photographer: Anna Mower
Editor: Heather Turner
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