The Recreation Fee Demonstration Program and the emphasis of forest managers to industrial tourism threatens to turn our National Forests and Parks into recreation Products to be marketed and sold to paying customers.
Recent surveys show that low-income families visit national forests less often to avoid the fees.
The researchers concluded in a paper reviewed by peer scientists and published last year that fees significantly discriminate against low-income people. Americans already own the National Forests and should have free access to them. We pay taxes every April 15th to support the federal management of these lands. Fee Demo is not about generating funds for trail maintenance. Congressional budget cuts created a maintenance crisis while funds specifically earmarked for recreation lands were diverted to deficit reduction.