Glacier Park fee increase

What? A 20 percent entrance fee increase for Glacier National Park? I have always presumed that our national parks belonged to all the people. With fully 40 percent of our middle-class citizens having lost actual income over the last six years, how can the desk jockeys in Apgar justify an increase?

I am sure their step raises, longevity increases, retirement benefits, holiday days off, etc., have continued to increase and outpace comparable jobs in the private sector.

Also, I read with interest their list of so called “improvements” to the Park which will heighten the experience of the visitor. These fee increases will raise revenue by an estimated $500,000. And yet I understand they want to do a fish study in a remote lake that costs $700,000. I thought the Park was for the people to visit?

For 40 years, I have been amazed at the number of Flathead citizens who claim they have never been to Glacier Park. Part of the reason for many is the cost of getting there and then the entrance fee.

My heart bleeds for the many children who have not thrown rocks in Lake McDonald, hiked into Avalanche Lake, been to the overlook at Hidden Lake or hiked to Granite Park Chalet. These are just some of the experiences our citizens wish to enjoy.

So why gather the staff to come up with more money-spending ideas when God created the Park for us all? After all, we look for maintained roads, affordable services, an educated staff to direct the flow of people and lots of sunshine for the days it doesn’t rain.

Dale Haarr

Kalispell