Each year, national parks welcome some 270 million visitors. They give the parks high marks — an approval rating of 96%. With strong funding and management support, the Bush administration is helping our parks maintain this outstanding record.
Despite claims in a recent critical report by the National Parks Conservation Association, funding for our parks is at an all-time high. Since 1980, parks have benefited from a 121% increase in operations funding — not a reduction, as the report claims.

During the current administration, proposed increases in operating funds have totaled nearly 21% through 2005. As a result, the National Park Service has more funds per employee, per acre and per visitor than at any time in its history.

These dollars are addressing high-priority needs. Yet money alone will not ensure high-quality service. Success requires management excellence to ensure that the dollars are well spent.

Management changes are underway in parks so every dollar achieves results. For example, parks are sharing resources. Not every one of our 387 park units needs its own bulldozer equipment. Instead, in one region, the parks share equipment. This is smart management.

For the first time, the park service has state-of-the-art systems to manage facilities maintenance. We are implementing a new system to track spending. We are getting more value from concessionaires who run hotels and restaurants. And we are using people and technologies in different ways.

Consider Alcatraz Island, the former federal penitentiary in San Francisco Bay. There, the park service is using audio systems to tell the historic tale of the prison, complete with taped interviews of former prisoners. The system frees up park staff to serve visitors in other ways.

By looking at the whole national park system rather than viewing each park as a separate silo of activity, we will ensure that we have the right people in the right places at the right time and with the right tools.

These on-the-ground efforts and the strong record of commitment to our parks by this administration are sustaining the parks for public enjoyment.

Lynn Scarlett is an assistant secretary at the Interior Department, which oversees the National Park Service.

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