McClatchy: $216 million pledged for national parks -- if Congress matches funds

[babylonsister]

$216 million pledged for national parks -- if Congress matches funds
By Michael Doyle | McClatchy Newspapers

* Posted on Wednesday, August 22, 2007



WASHINGTON — A first-of-its-kind pledge drive has secured promises of $216 million to help pay for hundreds of projects at national parks.

Corporations, nonprofits and wealthy individuals, among others, have all lined up to contribute to the program being unveiled Thursday at Yosemite National Park. The dollars would fund everything from restoring beat-down meadows to rehabilitating old buildings.

"This is money that people are falling all over themselves to give to us," National Park Service spokesman David Barna said Wednesday.

But there's a catch.

The "partnership" pledges being announced by Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne and National Park Service Director Mary Bomar first require Congress to kick in an additional $100 million. Together, the federal and non-federal funding would initiate what the Bush administration calls the park service's "centennial challenge."

more...

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/19148.html

[sandnsea]

1. Modern Bride Falls, Nike Trail, Charmin' Rest Center,

I can just see it now. Is there nothing these corporate hogs can leave alone, or just support and keep their damn logos off of.

[The Backlash Cometh]

2. Is this just another sneaky privatization ploy?

They're going to do whatever they can to get their hands on our public land before Bush leaves office. Of course, congress wouldn't have to worry about it if they were impeaching Bush and he had better things to do.

[sandnsea]

3. There has already been some

I've read previously about corporations sponsoring park benches, trail signs, stuff like that. I never would have thought we'd have corporate stadiums, so who knows how far this stuff will go. I really don't have a problem with corporations or rich people donating to things and even getting good publicity for it - but have a little decency and stop sticking the corporate sign all over every damn thing.