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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Darkly comedic 'Divine Lunacy' gives insight into mental illness ... Medford may ban outdoor pot gardens ... Medford man accused of threatening girlfriend with high-speed crash ... Darkly comedic 'Divine Lunacy' gives insight into mental illness ... Medford may ban outdoor pot gardens ... Medford man accused of threatening girlfriend with high-speed crash ... OTHER VIEWS Other views: Park fee hikes will at least aid a good cause Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Jul. 11, 2015 at 12:01 AM Posted Jul. 11, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News The (Eugene) Register-Guard Nearly a century ago, Congress passed the National Park Service Organic Act, creating a federal agency to manage the nation's parks and monuments. The agency's mission was as broad and impressive in scope as the lands to which it applied: to "conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects" of the parks and to "provide for the enjoyment of the same ... by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations." That mission has been endangered in recent years by a massive backlog in maintenance and construction projects — nearly $12 billion worth — that threaten to cast a shadow over the National Park Service's celebration of its centennial in August 2016. The agency's maintenance needs have been exacerbated by congressional budget cuts that have taken an increasing toll on both operating and capital budgets. In a recent report, agency officials reported that of the national park system's paved roads are in "fair to poor condition" and dozens of bridges need repair. An estimated 6,700 miles of hiking trails need maintenance. Name the park, and the agency has a corresponding list of deferred maintenance projects. At Crater Lake, the list consists largely of roads, including the iconic Rim Road, which takes visitors around the lake and is scheduled for a major renovation later this year. At Yosemite, the list ranges from upgrading the El Portal sewer lines to rehabilitating the much-visited Mariposa grove of giant sequoia trees. The park headquarters at Lassen Volcanic National Park needs a new utility system, and Sequoia National Park needs a water treatment facility. The list goes on. And on. The National Park Service has asked Congress for $243 million in new funding over the next 10 years to restore its non-transportation facilities to good condition. That's a modest request in light of scope of the maintenance backlog and the increasing popularity of national parks — an estimated 292 million people visited national parks last year. At 130 national parks across the country, the agency recently began charging visitors more to get inside, with entrance fees doubling, even tripling at some sites. The price of daily admission went from $10 to $15 a couple of weeks ago at Crater Lake. Across the nation, park visitors will also face higher fees for camping, showering and other amenities. It's unfortunate that park visitors will have to pay more to visit and play in national parks, and it's possible the new increases will price some Americans out of visiting them. National parks, which represent some of the most extraordinary examples of America's landscape and heritage, should be available for the enjoyment of all citizens. Yet most national fees have not changed since 2008, and agency officials say 80 percent of the fees stay at the park where they were collected. An annual pass good for entry to all national parks is available for $80 — an bargain by any standard, and there is free park admission for the disabled and active duty military members, along with occasional fee-free days and a $10 lifetime pass for people 62 and older. Americans can also take solace in the fact that revenue from the fee increases will be used to keep the nation's parks from falling further into disrepair and, hopefully, to reduce a monumental — and unacceptable — maintenance backlog. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Jul. 11, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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