Nonprofit calls for infrastructure repairs in High Desert national parks
Hazardous abandoned mines. Roads that are too narrow or in need of repair. Understaffed and ill-equipped visitors centers.
These are some of the infrastructure projects that the National Parks Association, a nonprofit group devoted to protecting federally run public land, says need to be completed in San Bernardino County's three national parks -- Death Valley, Joshua Tree and Mojave National Preserve.
"Our parks are economic engines that we clearly want to keep well oiled because they provide real benefits to our communities," said Michael Cipra, the association's California desert program coordinator. "We think repairing the neglected infrastructure of parks nurtures tourism and restores the promise we have made to our children to protect the best places our country has to offer."
The association is calling for the incoming presidential administration to give money to address an $8.5 billion backlog in maintenance projects across the nation.
The nonprofit group claims the projects will create jobs to help communities near the parks that are facing economic challenges because the parks service often hires local workers.
Cipra said there is a long list of projects that could be undertaken in the desert parks. For example, there is a problem with invasive Saharan mustard in Joshua Tree that needs to be addressed, a visitors center in Mojave National Preserve that needs more staffing and another visitors center in Death Valley that does not have adequate heating or cooling, he said.
He added that the parks generate millions of tourism dollars in local communities - $70 million from Death Valley, $47 million from Joshua Tree and $27 million from Mojave National Preserve.
Other projects identified by the association include:
-$11.2 million to rehabilitate Bonnie Claire Road, the main road through Death Valley National Park
-$2.6 million to chip seal Keys View Road, Barker Dam Road and Sheeps Pass Road in Joshua Tree National Park
-$110,000 to perform maintenance on park trails in Joshua Tree
On Tuesday, the federal department of the interior announced the list of national parks that would be receiving $27 million this year for maintenance in preparation of the park service's centennial in 2016.
Death Valley, Joshua Tree and Mojave National Preserve did not make the list.
These are some of the infrastructure projects that the National Parks Association, a nonprofit group devoted to protecting federally run public land, says need to be completed in San Bernardino County's three national parks -- Death Valley, Joshua Tree and Mojave National Preserve.
"Our parks are economic engines that we clearly want to keep well oiled because they provide real benefits to our communities," said Michael Cipra, the association's California desert program coordinator. "We think repairing the neglected infrastructure of parks nurtures tourism and restores the promise we have made to our children to protect the best places our country has to offer."
The association is calling for the incoming presidential administration to give money to address an $8.5 billion backlog in maintenance projects across the nation.
The nonprofit group claims the projects will create jobs to help communities near the parks that are facing economic challenges because the parks service often hires local workers.
Cipra said there is a long list of projects that could be undertaken in the desert parks. For example, there is a problem with invasive Saharan mustard in Joshua Tree that needs to be addressed, a visitors center in Mojave National Preserve that needs more staffing and another visitors center in Death Valley that does not have adequate heating or cooling, he said.
He added that the parks generate millions of tourism dollars in local communities - $70 million from Death Valley, $47 million from Joshua Tree and $27 million from Mojave National Preserve.
Other projects identified by the association include:
-$11.2 million to rehabilitate Bonnie Claire Road, the main road through Death Valley National Park
-$2.6 million to chip seal Keys View Road, Barker Dam Road and Sheeps Pass Road in Joshua Tree National Park
-$110,000 to perform maintenance on park trails in Joshua Tree
On Tuesday, the federal department of the interior announced the list of national parks that would be receiving $27 million this year for maintenance in preparation of the park service's centennial in 2016.
Death Valley, Joshua Tree and Mojave National Preserve did not make the list.
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