Americans are accustomed to seeing corporate logos emblazoned on everything from ball parks to buildings and buses. But what if advertising started popping up on walkways, displays and vehicles inside America’s national parks? Under a new proposal by the National Park Service fund-raising guidelines, it may be something that could develop in the parks. Corporate advertising inside the parks could become more visible than ever.
Subaru logo on NPS vehicle. Photo: GAO.
National Park Service Fund-raising Guidelines Go Corporate
The National Park Service (NPS) budget shortfall is no secret. Government officials report that the NPS needs to find at least $12 billion new dollars to repair and maintain its parks, monuments and recreations areas. According to the Washington Post, Congress isn’t doing much to help. Lawmakers slashed the NPS budget by 8% between 2005 and 2014. Finally, American citizens usually meet every proposed new NPS fee increase with an uproar.
While there are no easy way to increase funding, the NPS is actively tapping corporate dollars. The proposed new fund-raising guidelines legitimize the controversial strategy. In the document known as “Director’s Order 21,” (view the “DO” details here)” corporate donors can sponsor everything from the entrance brochures to “non-permanent” walkways and interpretive displays. Visitors would see donor recognition such as:
- Corporate branding on donated maintenance vehicles.
- Donor recognition on bricks, walkways, benches, and landscaped areas.
- Ongoing partnerships with alcoholic beverage companies like Budweiser.
Advocates for the new guidelines say it’s a way to help the parks system keep up with mounting fiscal demands. “I think it’s a really good thing.” says Dan Puskar, the executive director of the Public Lands Alliance.
Will Victoria’s Secret sponsor the Statue of Liberty? Photo: NPS.gov
Puskar told Fortune.com that the guidelines will simply “make it possible for parks to do something for donors that you might find in a university or museum. They’re looking for a tasteful way to recognize donors.”
Nonetheless, there are many vocal NPS advocates that are clearly not in favor. The Coalition to Protect America’s Parks is one such group. Consequently, they fear that the new guidelines pave the way for too much corporate influence inside the parks.
Additionally, many groups worry that the proposed national park system fund-raising activities will sell “naming rights” of national treasures to the highest bidder.
For example, in public comments, Coalition leaders wonder if they “will accept donations from sources closely identified with environmentally unfriendly industries, like uranium mining or oil/gas development?”
Do Corporations Influence National Park Policies?
According to many park advocates, even without the proposed National Park Service fund-raising guidelines, corporate money is having greater influence on NPS policy. In the fall, Subaru was granted a permit to film a commercial in Shenandoah National Park during peak foliage season.
As a result, according to fact checkers at the Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER), the permit was approved in one day and provided Subaru the ability to shut down the park’s main thoroughfare. Subaru was also allowed to break NPS policy by using a drone to capture overhead footage.
Further, the NPS entered into a $2.5 million contract with German-owned Anheuser-Busch in return for support of the 2016 “Find Your Park” campaign. The approval by NPS director Jon Jarvis broke a long-standing policy against the park service directly identifying itself with alcohol or tobacco products.
The new National Park Service fund-raising guidelines are still in draft mode. The Coalition to Protect America’s Parks stands by its opinion. The group continues warning that the revision “begins to send parks and the NPS down a road of increased commercialization.”
Rene Agredano and her husband, Jim Nelson, became full-time RVers in 2007 and have been touring the country ever since. In her blog, Rene chronicles the ins and outs of the full-timing life and brings readers along to meet the fascinating people and amazing places they visit on the road. Her road trip adventures are chronicled in her blog at LiveWorkDream.com.
Like everything else in the US, corporate money and influence will continue to destroy our democracy. We only have an oligarchy, and the demise of the USA approaches rapidly along with climate change, while the politicians have their heads you know where!
I can see it now, “Gettyburg, where the Civil War’s bloodiest battle took place, sponsored by the Acme Mortuary.”
Closing a road in a NP is not uncommon for filming and has been done for years. If anyone has watched Thelma and Louise, the scene where the cop pulls them over was filmed on the main road in Arches, and yes, traffic was stopped.
Also, one of the Indiana Jones movies (believe the last one) was filmed in Arches at Double arch and no one was allowed to be in the area during filming.
As for drones being used in a commercial, many regs are changed for professional filming crews and the price they pay is high. So a drone, used by professionals, for just a commercial filming was not cheap.
I say we allow National Parks to do whatever they deem necessary to survive. The parks are operating at a huge deficit. They receive less money from the government than the city of Austin Texas’ budget. They really are our national treasures. I could care less if it’s US Cellular Yosemite or Apple Grand Tetons, if it means me and my children can continue to appreciate these wonderful treasure, then it’s all good.
I’ll bet that the people who complain the loudest about advertising in National Parks would be the first to protest if asked to pay higher taxes to support those parks. I agree with Karen; if advertising is what it takes to save our parks, I’m completely in favor.
Parks are our great national treasure! If politicians cannot find the money to maintain them, tasteful commercial ads could be the answer to keeping up our parks. But they need to be carefully screened for propriety and common sense. I don’t think seeing an ad printed on a park maintenance vehicle would be offensive or to see a plaque stating Company XYZ paid for repaving a roadway or building a shelter.
Until Congress sets a high enough priority on our wonderful National Parks to adequately fund them, I can understand seeking funding where it is available. Until voters demand funding parks, fees will go up and advertising must be accepted. The alternative is to stop maintaining facilities, stop staffing rangers to protect the parks, or just close them and let the nations heritage pass away.