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Maintenance Backlog

Traveler Special Report: NPS Is Running $670 Million Behind On Caring For Maintained Landscapes

A lack of money, nearly $700 million, has left National Park Service crews are far behind in caring for the maintained landscape of the National Park System, the battlefields, the campgrounds, even the historic orchards that can be found in some parks and the trails that wind through the underground of Mammoth Cave National Park.

Blue Ridge Parkway Seeks Public Comment On Planned Bridge Repairs

Some serious roadwork likely is in the future of the Blue Ridge Parkway, as National Park Service officials are evaluating the repair needs of four bridges that date to the original construction of the scenic parkway that winds from Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina

Traveler Special Report: Private Philanthropy Fills The Gaps Of Deferred Maintenance

“How we treat our land, how we build upon it, how we act toward our air and water, will in the long run tell what kind of people we really are.” These words, spoken by philanthropist Laurance S. Rockefeller, reflect the passion that philanthropists large and small exhibit when they invest in the National Park System. Whether the Congress as a whole embraces that passion remains to be seen.

What Might The National Park Service's Maintenance Priority List Look Like?

As Congress works in the coming months to reach accord on legislation that would provide billions of dollars to address the National Park System's nearly $12 billion in maintenance work that's been put off for a year or longer, the backlog continues to inch higher and higher. If a funding mechanism is passed, then the National Park Service will have to craft a national priority list of projects that need to be tackled. While that list doesn't exist yet, here's a look at some possible top priorities.

Second Bipartisan Bill Rises As Congress Works To Confront National Park System Maintenance Backlog

Not quite a month after an effort was mounted in the U.S. Senate to provide up to $1.3 billion a year to address the National Park System's maintenance backlog, a similar piece of legislation has been offered in the U.S. House of Representatives, though with a little less money to address the backlog.

Traveler Special Report: Backlog Of Maintenance Needs Creates Park Risks

Across the National Park System, maintenance needs are creating safety issues for park visitors. Whether it's the leaking Trans-Canyon Pipeline at Grand Canyon National Park, eroding walls at San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, or cracks in the Blue Ridge Parkway, tens of millions of dollars in deferred maintenance are dangerous for visitors.

National Park Service Wants To Replace Lewis River Bridge In Yellowstone

Nearly six decades into its life, the Lewis River Bridge in Yellowstone National Park has reached old age and has deteriorated to the point where it either needs "extensive rehabilitation" or to be completely replaced. Park staff is proposing to have the bridge replaced in a two-year project that would move it slightly east of its current location and improve parking at the popular spot.

Maintenance Woes: Failed Septic System Forces Cancellation Of Film Festival At Effigy Mounds National Monument

Let's put a face on part of the National Park Service's maintenance backlog. At Effigy Mounds National Monument in Iowa, the annual Winter Film Festival had to be cancelled because the park's sewer system can't handle big crowds. And it might not be replaced before summer.

The Essential RVing Guide

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

The National Parks RVing Guide, aka the Essential RVing Guide To The National Parks, is the definitive guide for RVers seeking information on campgrounds in the National Park System where they can park their rigs. It's available for free for both iPhones and Android models.

This app is packed with RVing specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 parks.

You'll also find stories about RVing in the parks, some tips if you've just recently turned into an RVer, and some planning suggestions. A bonus that wasn't in the previous eBook or PDF versions of this guide are feeds of Traveler content: you'll find our latest stories as well as our most recent podcasts just a click away.

So whether you have an iPhone or an Android, download this app and start exploring the campgrounds in the National Park System where you can park your rig.