Communities Step In to Run U.S. National Parks During Federal Shutdown
Creatrip Team
3 months ago
During the U.S. federal government shutdown from Oct 1 to Nov 12, many national parks faced severe staffing and funding gaps. Although parks remained open, essential services struggled as employees worked without pay. Local nonprofit groups and community organizations filled the void: seven groups near Great Smoky Mountains agreed to pay wages for 275 park workers; community partners helped run Pearl Harbor National Memorial and Vicksburg National Military Park; nonprofits urged donations instead of fees at Acadia; climber group Access Fund cleaned restrooms at public climbing areas like Indian Creek and Red River Gorge; Rocky Mountain Conservancy ran the visitor center at Rocky Mountain National Park, and RoCo YMCA organized restroom-cleaning and litter-pickup events. These grassroots efforts helped keep parks functional and highlighted the parks’ local economic importance.
