Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced on Earth Day -- and in the middle of fee-free National Parks Week -- that his department wanted to host the public sans entry fees several more times this year.
From
www.nationalparksonline.org:
"What better way to celebrate this Earth Day than to make it easier for
all Americans to experience the breathtaking landscapes, amazing
creatures, and the stories that make up our shared heritage," added
Salazar. "By getting outdoors, we remind ourselves of our blessings and
of the responsibility we all have to pass these lands on to our
children and our grandchildren."
More from the post:
All national parks, national wildlife refuges, and many areas managed by
the Bureau of Land Management will offer free admission on June 5-6,
August 14-15, September 25 (Public Lands Day), and November 11 (Veterans
Day). These dates are in addition to the previously announced free
admission at all 392 national parks April 17-25 as part of the
celebration of National Park Week.
Salazar also hyped the Obama administration's newly announced
Great Outdoors Initiative, a new federal push for conservation and outdoor recreation. I'm not sure how effective it will be -- the specifics are still a bit vague.
