From: mjvande@pbhye.PacBell.COM (Mike Vandeman)
Subject: The "Human Playground" theory of park management
Organization: Pacific * Bell
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1992 04:30:36 GMT
Followup-To: sci.environment

                                   November 22, 1992
James Ridenour, Director
National Park Service
Department of Interior
17th & C Streets
Washington, D.C 20240

Re: The "Human Playground" style of park management at Yosemite and
the Grand Canyon

Dear Sir:

     There is an unfortunate trend in our parks and other public
(and private) lands to cater to us human beings and give low
priority to the natural "resources" (mainly wildlife) that make the
parks attractive. I call this the "human playground" theory of park
management. I am writing to ask you to either eliminate the
concessions altogether (leave an absolute minimum of human
                                          _______         
facilities, such as restrooms and drinking fountains), or choose
the concessionaire that most closely adheres to that ideal
(probably YRT Services, of San Francisco).

     Although this may sound extreme, it is not. Wildlife cannot
protect itself from us. Over the last several thousand years, man
has been the cause of the decimation of wildlife and thousands of
extinctions in North America. Although mankind has no trouble
whatever claiming and dominating every square inch of the Earth,
most people could not name a single area that belongs to wildlife
and is off-limits to humans (can you?). Obviously, most wildlife
cannot tolerate the presence of humans. The only way we can ensure
the continued presence of wildlife on the Earth (and hence our own
existence!) is to begin designating adequate wildlife sanctuaries
                                    ________                     
and corridors that are off-limits to humans, and buffer zones
around them where minimal human facilities (especially roads)
                                                       _____ 
prevent damage to the ecosystem.

     If park-goers want urban-style, industrial-grade human
amenities, let them find them in the city, where they belong. They
are incompatible with the national parks. Just as suburbanites
    ____________                                              
destroy the rural atmosphere that originally drew them to the
suburbs, too-easy human access to wilderness denatures and destroys
that wilderness.

     On a recent trip to the Grand Canyon, I was told by a ranger
that the word "preserve" has been deleted from your stated goal to
"preserve and protect". If true, this represents an unbelievable
level of hubris and ignorance. The presence of mules in the Canyon
was justified by saying that "they have always been there", and
that the concession brings in money. The mules destroy the trails
(they create a narrow rut in the middle of the trail, which washes
out each year with the first rain) and create a terrible stench
over large sections of the those trails. They also create an awful
racket at Phantom Ranch, destroying the peace of the canyon. No
amount of money can compensate for this desecration of a national
park.

     The degree of development in the Grand Canyon National Park
should be decreased, not increased. The South Rim should be
                                    _______________________
redesigned for the convenience of visitors who arrive via bicycle
_________________________________________________________________
or public transit. At present, it is only convenient if you have a
_________________                                                 
car. Specifically, the AMTRAK buses should stop at a "transit hub"
near the Backcountry Office, before going to the hotels. There must
be lockers there for nondrivers to store their belongings. I
arrived by AMTRAK bus, and had to travel one mile back and forth

between the hotel (the only place I could safely store my
belongings) and the Visitor's Center many times. There should be
bicycles available for rent. The road construction should stop, and
the use of motor vehicles within the Park should be prohibited or
very restricted. Instead, shuttle buses should run all year, as in
Yosemite. AMTRAK should stop in Williams, so that passengers can
transfer to the Grand Canyon train.

     Mankind has very little time left to learn how to safeguard
the Earth's ecosystems. (In particular, we desperately need to
replace the use of the automobile with public transit and other
clean forms of transportation.) What better place to begin, than in
the parks???

                                   Sincerely,


                                   Michael J. Vandeman, Ph.D.
Newsgroups: sci.aquaria