I’m afraid that The Tribune’s “Proposed fee hikes are too much” editorial is evident of a typical mindset that the treasures we have in our irreplaceable and over-visited big five national parks are worth so little to so many.
It costs an adult $100 plus per person per day to go to Disneyland, EPCOT, Universal Studios, etc., and yet the editorial board thinks that increasing park vehicle fees from $30 to $70 is too much? I’m guessing that if you dug deeper you’d find that the cost of basic services (toilets, signage, roads, emergency services, training, staffing, equipment) has not gone down in the last decade, while visitors have increased substantially in all of the parks.
The experts at theme parks know exactly what to charge to run, update and make a profit while our national (and probably state-run) parks don’t even get close to breaking even. A car of four people would be spending $17.50 per person to see, feel and experience some of the most beautiful scenery in the world for the price of a movie ticket and a soda pop.
Our parks can never be replaced and must be protected and preserved for all generations, and raising fees will help tremendously. Senior passes are still available, and if low-income folks find it hard to afford, then offer a discount to those who can show they are receiving government aid of some kind.
There is always a way to help those who can’t afford higher prices, but never a way to replace our natural resources.
Babs De Lay, Salt Lake City