According to the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), America's National Parks are in more danger today than at any other time.

"Routine maintenance of the parks' physical infrastructure has fallen behind. Roads are crumbling, roofs are leaking, sewage lines are breaking, and historic structures are falling into disrepair. More important, the research, planning, and management actions necessary to preserve the very resources the parks were established to protect are not getting done. " from the Public Lands Funding Initiative - "Leaving a legacy for generations to come"

The Park Service estimates the immediate capital construction needs in the parks total $5.6 billion. These needs include repairing roads and bridges, historic structures, employee housing , and utility lines. Other unmet capital needs include land restoration $1.1 billion, employee housing $442 million and utilities, including gas, electric, water and sewer $304 million. In addition, within the units of the parks system, there are approximately $1.4 billion of private lands within park boundaries that have never been acquired.

Additionally, the park system has been forced to close campgrounds, shorten operating hours, eliminate many interpretive programs and lay off many seasonal rangers. The lack of funds has also hampered the Park Service's ability to adequately care for its priceless natural, cultural and historical assets. Finally, the funding shortage has forced the Park Service to eliminate many of the parks' scientific studies programs.

Senator Craig Thomas, chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Parks, Historic Preservation and Recreation tells it like it is when he says, "The list of unfunded projects is staggering, and it is important to note that even if Congress fully funded all of these programs today, it would only address the existing backlog of needs. No new facilities or programs are included in these figures." It's been 34 years since we made a major investment in the National Park System's infrastructure. Since that time the park system has grown extensively with many more park units added. At the same time attendance has exploded.