Dear Editor,
Last year marked the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service.
From the Statue of Liberty to Ellis island to the Gateway National Recreation area, New Yorkers can be proud of the amazing pieces of our shared heritage protected as national park sites.
But our country’s parks face a damning challenge…more than $12 billion in needed repairs.
The Park System’s deferred maintenance backlog includes unmaintained trail, crumbling roads, and visitor centers in desperate need of updating.
The Gateway National Recreation area alone requires over $621 million in repairs, while the Statue of Liberty requires over $160 million in repairs.
These are major New York landmarks, responsible for millions of dollars in local revenue, and should receive the maintenance-resources that they need.
— Frank McGregor
and then 