This is what needs to happen

If any of you are on instagram, @mountainstosoundgreenway posted a fabulous imagine. It’s a photo of a blocked off trailhead at a National Forest in Washington state. On the barricade, there is a sign posted that reads “Due to the large scale termination of Forest Service employees Franklin Falls and the Denny Creek Trailhead are CLOSED. This site will reopen when we return to appropriate staffing levels.”

This is exactly what parks need to be doing if/when these staffing shortages affect the functionality of the parks. Close off access to the resource and recreation, and tell the visitors exactly why the closure exists. Make the visitors see with their own eyes the tangible impact of their voting decisions. You like cuts in federal spending? Well, that’s what “cutting spending” looks like!

It’s much tougher to pretend to be all about “trimming off fat” and enduring “necessary pain” when you’re standing in front of a barrier to your favorite trail, as opposed to typing on Reddit. Anyways, just thought I’d share this. If any of you are in any position to make these kinds of decisions at your park, I think this would be one of the most effective ways to inform visitors of these issues without violating the hatch act and being unprofessional.