U.S. National Parks Are Understaffed and In Debt, Says Retired Park Service Leader
Dr. Gil Lusk, a retired National Park Service employee, talks about why the parks are undervalued and underfunded on Detroit Today.
The National Park Service is more than 100 years old, and this year marks the 100th anniversary of Michigan’s State parks. Attendance at both state parks and national parks is up, but the National Park Service hasn’t planned for or recognized how the world has changed in recent decades and that is putting the future of the parks at risk.
Dr. Gil Lusk is a retired National Park Service employee with 35 years of experience, and he’s the author of “National Parks Our Living National Treasures: A Time For Concern.”
Click on the player above to hear Dr. Gil Lusk talk about the challenges facing the national parks.
Detroit Today with Stephen Henderson talks with Lusk about his work as a Superintendent at several National Parks. He remembers “a time when parks were viewed as somewhat of a problem, [because they] don’t provide for hunting or mining or any of the other extractive negative impacts.”
“We have 220,000 volunteers trying to make up for the lack of part-time and full-time personnel. This $12 billion debt isn’t being addressed.” – Dr. Gil Lusk
While discussing the funding shortfalls facing the parks, Lusk says that “we have 220,000 volunteers trying to make up for the lack of part-time and full-time personnel. This $12 billion debt isn’t being addressed.”
Support the news you love.
Here at WDET, we strive to make our journalism accessible to everyone. As a non-profit public media institution, we maintain our journalistic integrity through independent support from readers like you. Because you value WDET as your source of news, music, and conversation, please make a gift of support today. Even $5 helps!
