Report: Park-entry fees used for D.C. beautification as parks face $24 billion repair backlog

The Washington Post reported that at least $90 million in national park entry fees was used to pay for beautification projects in Washington, D.C., ahead of America 250 celebrations, a CBS News segment said. The projects — which the segment listed as repaired fountains, statues treated with gold leaf, new paint in the reflecting pool and a repaving of the West Wing colonnade — prompted criticism from park advocates that funds intended for repairs are being redirected.

Shenandoah National Park, with about 500 miles of trails and nearly 2 million annual visitors, was cited in the report as one of roughly 400 sites managed by the National Park Service that face a maintenance backlog the segment estimated at more than $24 billion. Jim Shabrel, who recently retired from the Park Service, and Jessica Coello, who leads the Shenandoah National Park Trust, said the parks are at risk of "losing their shine" if needed repairs are deferred.

"What's happening right now is that budget is being hijacked," said Ed Sterley of the National Parks Conservation Association. "Why shouldn't D.C. benefit? I think it shouldn't be a choice. I mean, what we want to see is funding for all of our national parks," he added, arguing that funds for capital beautification should not come at the expense of park maintenance.

The segment also noted that Congress approved $6.5 billion for park and public-lands repairs in President Trump's first term but that funding ran out last year, leaving advocates to warn that deferred maintenance can lead to the loss of historic structures and eroded trails. The report cited The Atlantic in connection with the West Wing colonnade repaving and listed fireworks for the Fourth of July among the projects reportedly paid for with fee revenue.

The Washington Postreport is the central source for the allegation that fee revenues were redirected; the CBS segment relayed that reporting and included comments from park advocates calling for sustained repair funding. Caitlin Hughey Burns, CBS News, Shenandoah National Park.