United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office Resources, Community, and Economic Development Division author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 1995-08-30 monographic deposited born digital 58 p. GA 1.13:RCED-95-238 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-RCED-95-238 P0b002ee1803a169f f:rc95238 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-23 GAOREPORTS-RCED-95-238 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-RCED-95-238 RCED-95-238 National recreation areas National parks National historic sites Historic preservation Natural resources Federal property management Public lands Cost control Facility maintenance Maintenance costs Antietam National Battlefield (MD) Bandelier National Monument (NM) Denali National Park and Preserve (AK) Glacier National Park (MT) Harpers Ferry National Historical Park (WV) Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site (PA) Lake Mead National Recreation Area (NV) Shenandoah National Park (VA) Statue of Liberty National Monument (NY) Ellis Island (NY) Yosemite National Park (CA) Padre Island National Seashore (TX) Pecos National Historic Park (NM) Chapter Report RCED Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the current condition of 12 national park units, focusing on: (1) whether any deterioration in visitor services or park resources is occurring at the 12 units; (2) what factors contribute to the degradation of visitor services and parks' natural and cultural resources; and (3) the National Park Service's efforts in dealing with these problems.<p/>GAO found that: (1) there is cause for concern about the condition of national parks for both visitor services and resource management; (2) the overall level of visitor services is deteriorating at most parks; (3) services are being cut back and the condition of many trails, campgrounds, and other facilities are declining; (4) effective resource management is difficult because most park managers lack sufficient data to determine the overall condition of their parks' natural and cultural resources; (5) parks have difficulty meeting additional operating requirements and accomodating increased visitation; and (6) the Park Service is considering increasing the amount of financial resources going to parks, limiting or reducing the number of units in the park system, and reducing the level of visitor services to improve its financial management and performance measurement systems. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-RCED-95-238/html/GAOREPORTS-RCED-95-238.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-RCED-95-238/pdf/GAOREPORTS-RCED-95-238.pdf GAO/RCED-95-238 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-RCED-95-238 Chapter Report GAO/RCED-95-238; National Parks: Difficult Choices Need to Be Made About the Future of the Parks; National recreation areas National parks National historic sites Historic preservation Natural resources Federal property management Public lands Cost control Facility maintenance Maintenance costs Antietam National Battlefield (MD) Bandelier National Monument (NM) Denali National Park and Preserve (AK) Glacier National Park (MT) Harpers Ferry National Historical Park (WV) Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site (PA) Lake Mead National Recreation Area (NV) Shenandoah National Park (VA) Statue of Liberty National Monument (NY) Ellis Island (NY) Yosemite National Park (CA) Padre Island National Seashore (TX) Pecos National Historic Park (NM)