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US national parks are funded by government support, user fees, and donations. The National Park Service oversees over 50 parks with over 20,000 employees. Government funding is divided into discretionary and mandatory spending, while user fees generate over $1 billion annually. Donations through the National Park Foundation and Friends of the Park organizations are increasingly important. National Park Week and special events are used to generate interest and funding.
National parks in the United States (USA) are funded in three main ways: direct funding from the government, user fees, and donations. Government support makes up the bulk of the funding. In times of low government spending or economic hardship where parks attract fewer paying visitors, philanthropic donations often make up a growing portion of parks’ budgets.
The US national park system was established in March 1872 when Congress authorized the creation of Yosemite National Park in California. The National Park Service (NPS) was established to oversee all of these parks in 1916. There are more than 50 of them in the United States and they are administered by over 20,000 NPS employees.
Government funding of the park totals billions of US dollars (USD) each year. Government money is usually divided into two types of uses: discretionary spending and mandatory spending. The discretionary expense covers normal park operations and special events. Compulsory spending goes to programs created and mandated by specific legislation.
In the NPS’ early years of operation, fees charged to park visitors were not authorized by Congress. The reduction in government spending in later years was offset by allowing parks to collect small taxes with a cap on the amount. More recently, Congress raised this limit so that user fees now generate more than $1 billion annually.
Corporate and individual donations have become an increasingly important component of park funding. Congress created the National Park Foundation where tax-deductible contributions can be paid into a general fund to be used at the foundation’s discretion to support parks. Individual groups also exist, typically near a park, to channel financial support to that particular park.
The National Park Foundation works closely with the NPS to create opportunities to generate money and interest in the parks. Each year, one week in April is designated as National Park Week. During this week all parks are open free to the public.
Many national parks have a Friends of the Park organization that provides local support similar to the Foundation. These organizations often provide park information designed to enhance visitor enjoyment. They also typically raise money by soliciting direct donations and hosting special events. Many groups also operate retail stores that feature park memorabilia.
