Article Menu
Introduction
Eastern U.S.
Southeastern U.S.
Southwestern U.S.
Western U.S.
& Alaska
online favorites
Summer's Top Parks
Summer Mountain Festivals
Beach Travel Blog
Parks and Outdoors Guide
2008 Summer Buyer's Guide
from Outside Online
PARKS
GORP Top Ten
Endangered Public Lands
By Andrea Keller, Associate Director of Communications,
National Parks Conservation Association
Eastern U.S.
* Fire Island National Seashore
* Frederick Douglass National Historic Site

Fire Island National Seashore
* New York

Fire Island The summertime jaunt from New York City to Long Island's Fire Island, which has become almost a clichi, has resulted in a construction boom that's accelerating beach erosion and destroying the protective natural dune system here. Pressure from homeowner associations has prompted the Army Corps of Engineers to propose a massive $100 million re-sanding program along Fire Island. The proposal, however, does not prevent further destruction of the dune system and may disrupt the nesting of the piping plover, an endangered shorebird that the Park Service has been working for years to recover.
Recommended solution: Restore the natural dune system and establish a cooperative land-protection program that includes buyouts and land swaps, and prohibits construction in the dunes.

Frederick Douglass Home
* Washington, D.C.

Frederick Douglass Home The home of this former slave—who became an internationally respected abolitionist and writer—attracted 35,000 people in 1999. But lack of funding compromises the Park Service's ability to preserve the historic site. Exterior repair, wallpaper, fireplaces, and carpeting all need rehabilitation, and the scholar's books, textiles, photographs, and ceramics are crumbling from age.
Recommended solution: The site needs $2 million to cover the costs of rehabilitation and repair, plus an increased annual operations budget to support ongoing maintenance and other park operations.

If you're interested in helping to protect these parks, visit NPCA's Web site at www.eparks.org. The group's Action Center enables site visitors to send instant mail about park needs to the Park Service and to the president and other elected officials.

Move on to *Southeastern U.S.

Return to *Top


Book an Active Vacation
star Top U.S. vacations—take off today!
bullet Visit Yellowstone - Wildlife, wildflowers, and awesome views: experience this national park.
bullet Safari in Denali - Don't miss out on Alaska's phenomenal wilderness.
bullet The best of Florida - Come play on the Sunshine State's sandy coast.

RELATED GORP LINKS
* GORP Parks & Preserves
* GORP Readers' Favorite National Parks
* GORPtravel

Related New York Trips

Related Northeast Trips

Road Trip Guides

National Park Guides

Hiking Guides

Today's Gear Guy

Gear Guides
[from Outside magazine]