First, I've culled a few tidbits of news regarding the National Parks over the last few weeks, but the primary purpose for this diary is to get some feedback from the Park Avenue group followers and members as to how they want the group to work. Do we want to have a weekly feature diary date and time or a weekly open thread to facilitate discussion (and if so, what day and time would people prefer)? I also think it'd be nice if we periodically have featurettes on specific parks where diarists can signup and write about things like the park's history, why the park exists, what's important about, what visitors should see when they go, etc. (Anyone been to Kobuk Valley? ;-)
The News Tidbits
Delaware may get its park!
The National Park Service has nearly 400 units...and not one of them is in Delaware. It is the only state that does not have a unit of the NPS; however, last Thursday, February 10th, the entire Delaware Congressional delegation filed a bill authorizing the creation of a NPS unit in the state to be name First State National Historical Park:
The First State National Historical Park Act of 2011 would create a park celebrating early American Dutch, Swedish and English Settlements located throughout Delaware, and Delaware's role in the events leading up to the founding of our nation. The park will include sites and attractions in each of Delaware's three counties.
The legislation also allows the Park Service to work with other historically significant sites that are not included in the National Park, but can be included in the National Park materials, tours and other related items.
Colorado Senator to discuss elevating Colorado Natl Monument to Natl Park Status
Senator Mark Udall (D-CO) has scheduled a public meeting to discuss the possibility of elevating Colorado National Monument near Grand Junction to the status of a National Park. The meeting has been scheduled for February 23rd at 5:30pm in the Maverick Student Center Ballroom at Mesa State College in Grand Junction, CO.
Wyoming Legislature authorizes GTNP land sale to Dept of Interior
Yesterday, the Wyoming Legislature passed a bill authorizing sale and transfer of state's land and mineral rights in Grand Teton National Park to the Department of the Interior. The bill gives the state's board of land commissioners the power to transfer the land to the Department of the Interior in exchange for monetary compensation or in lieu of money, mineral rights on federal lands, increased federal mineral royalties to the state or exchanges of land if approved by the legislature. Last year former Governor Dave Freudenthal created a stir by threatening to put the land up for sale at auction for $125 million. The sale to the federal government is expected to net the state about $107 million instead and prevent the land from being purchased by a buyer who could then develop the land within the park. The money will go to the state's common school account within the state's permanent land fund. The bill covers four parcels, three land parcels owned by the state and one parcel where the state owns the mineral rights. The lands are located near Jackson Lake, the Snake River, the Antelope Flats and near the township of Kelly and total over 1366 acres within the authorized park boundary.
Request for feedback
OK guys and gals...time for y'all to start throwing out ideas for what you want to see. A few suggestions to get the discussion started:
- A Weekly Featured Diary or Open Thread that lets the group get together and talk on a regular day of the week and time
- First person park featurettes talking about various aspects of that park by group members/followers that have been to the park
- A weekly/biweekly summary of park news (eg. like the first part of this diary)
- A regular photographic feature on specific parks where members and followers can post images from that park
- A regular Things to Know Before You Come column with travel hints and tips for people planning trips to specific parks