Park Service: Sequestration Will Hurt Local Economies

The National Park Service cautions that impending sequestration budget cuts will result in a blow to local economies, including the tourism-heavy District of Columbia.

There are 23 national parks in DC, which bring in $1.02 billion annually, according to 2011 data.

“People who visit parks need transportation, places to stay, and meals to eat – all of which support businesses and provide jobs in local communities,” Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said in a statement.

The Park Service conducts activities at areas and historic buildings along the C&O Canal, Rock Creek Park, the Georgetown Waterfront and the Old Stone House, to name a few. The National Park Service offers a list of its activities in the District.

Salazar said mandatory budget cuts under sequestration will result in reduced hours of operation for visitor centers, shorter seasons, and possibly closing campgrounds, hiking trails, and other recreational areas when there is insufficient staff to ensure the protection of visitors, staff and resources.

“Should Congress fail to act before the March 1 deadline, the public should expect reduced hours and services not only at America’s 398 national parks but also at the 561 national wildlife refuges and over 268 public land units,” he said.

Read more on sequestration:

• Breast Cancer Research Suffers Under Sequestration, Budget Uncertainty