Congressional hopefuls take heed: It pays to support
national parks. Three-quarters of voting Americans say their
representative’s record on parks is important, according to a 1996
survey conducted by Colorado State University for the nonprofit
National Parks and Conservation Association. The 46-page survey,
American Views on National Park Issues, found that only 4 percent
of citizens were more likely to vote for someone who wanted to
close some national parks, while 70 percent supported creation of
new parks. Fifty-eight percent favored congressional candidates who
support spending more tax money for the Park Service. Yet only a
slim majority of those polled were willing to pay $5 more in park
entrance fees. Only one-fifth would pay $10 more. As for the
nation’s oldest national park, 61 percent of survey respondents
said they were in favor of wolf reintroduction at Yellowstone, and
72 percent said the government should stop the proposed New World
gold mine near the northern border of the park. The survey backs
the conventional wisdom: Though Americans disagree on environmental
issues, they rally behind their national parks. For further
information, contact Glenn E. Haas, College of Natural Resources,
Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523
(970/491-6591).
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline We love our parks.
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