Nonprofits Step Up to Support National Parks During Government Shutdown

Fri Oct 03 2025 03:47:57 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Following a government shutdown, various nonprofit organizations and local governments are taking action to ensure national parks remain accessible to visitors and protected from potential damage.

With the current government shutdown, nonprofits across the country are stepping forward to keep national parks open and safe. The Friends of Vicksburg National Military Park are funding $2,000 a day to keep the park operational and protect it from vandalism. Similar efforts are seen in Hawaii and Colorado, where organizations are rallying resources to ensure that landmarks remain accessible to the public during this critical time. This situation reflects the importance of sustained funding and support for national parks, which can become vulnerable during government closures.

DENVER (AP) — During the current government shutdown, various nonprofit organizations and local governments have taken it upon themselves to ensure that national parks remain open and protected from potential damage. The Friends of Vicksburg National Military Park in Mississippi have committed to funding $2,000 a day to keep the park operational. This Civil War battlefield, which is home to more than 18,000 veterans' graves, reopened last Thursday thanks to this dedicated effort.

“For us, it is primarily and first and foremost an issue of protection of the park,” stated Bess Averett, executive director of the Friends of Vicksburg National Military Park. She highlighted the park's vulnerability during shutdowns, emphasizing the risks of vandalism and relic hunting.

The National Park Service's contingency plan permits parks to enter into agreements with various organizations willing to fund operations during shutdowns, allowing for regional cooperation to maintain essential services like trash collection and law enforcement.

Similar initiatives are seen across the United States. In West Virginia, the governor has signed agreements to reopen visitor centers in two national parks. On Oahu, not-for-profit Pacific Historic Parks has ensured that the Pearl Harbor National Memorial — a site deeply significant for its historical relevance — remains accessible to the public. The organization's president, Aileen Utterdyke, expressed hope for funding support from local businesses and tourism operations to cover the site's daily operational costs.

While many parks have been able to operate with limited staffing and closed visitor centers, organizations like the Rocky Mountain Conservancy in Colorado have stepped in to guide guests. They offer information and assistance at a nearby visitor center while park rangers are absent due to the shutdown. However, they also acknowledged the challenge, stating, “We are not rangers. We’re doing the best that we can.”

The continued support of nonprofit groups highlights both the significance of our national parks and the need for sustainable funding practices to maintain them during governmental uncertainties. Previous shutdowns have resulted in notable damages to parks, sparking discussions about the importance of keeping these spaces operational regardless of political circumstances.