The National Park Service has disbanded an industry-dominated outdoor recreation advisory panel that wanted to expand private services at campgrounds across the country. Still, it appears their suggestions have not been totally discounted. David Vela, (formerly Grand Teton National Park Superintendent) took over as acting director of the agency October 1st, and said the panel was terminated on November 1st. Vela offered no specific reason for the decision, which the Park Service said was made by Interior Secretary David Bernhardt.
However, it came after the group drew fire for its recent recommendation to modernize park campgrounds with more private concessions, bringing in such things as food trucks, mobile camp stores and better Wi-Fi, and limiting access by seniors to camping discounts during peak visitation periods. With the group now disbanded, Director Vela says “No action has been taken on the committee’s recommendations, nor will any action be taken in the future unless and until the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service determine the recommendations will improve the visitor experience, protect national park resources, and are determined to be prudent investments.”
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