This sorry situation is the predictable result of political management. Congress gets more publicity and votes from creating new parks than from prudent management and maintenance. As a result, sensible priorities are ignored as powerful members of Congress earmark funds for questionable pet projects. So Steamtown, a railroad museum in Pennsylvania gets priority over treating sewage in Glacier or Yellowstone National parks. Likewise restoring unused bath houses in Hot Springs, Arkansas, trumps roof repairs and modern fire sprinklers in Independence Hall, America's greatest shrine.
Nation parks are one of America's best ideas.
The fundamental problem is not one of bad people but rather institutional arrangements that frustrate good intentions. There are three way to organize society and generate cooperative behavior. To dispense justice and protect the weak from the strong, government has an important role. For commodities and the provision of commercial services, the market process has no equal. For many other public purposes, for hospitals, schools, research institutes, and parks, non-government endowment boards, have accomplished a great deal and hold great promise.