To: National Park Service

Tell the National Park Service not to raise entrance fees!

The National Park Service is proposing a big increase in entrance fees for some of the country's most beloved wild places. In some cases, the cost to enter a park by vehicle would rise to $70 - from a current amount of $25 or $30.

These changes would affect the most popular parks in the country, including Acadia, Grand Canyon, Olympic, Shenandoah, Yellowstone, and Yosemite.

Tell the National Park Service not to raise entrance fees!

Why is this important?

It's troubling to see a proposal from the National Park Service that would make these beautiful places less accessible to average Americans. Raising the price to as much as $30 per individual and $70 per vehicle for the most popular parks would deprive so many people of life-changing experiences and an appreciation for the natural world. The parks are for everyone, regardless of income!

I remember a trip to Sequoia National Park, high in California's mountains. It was winter, and the snow was taller than our car. We set out one morning as the sun rose. The only sound was the clop of our snowshoes as they broke through the thin layer of ice that had formed on the powder overnight. When we paused, we smelled only sweet evergreens and heard only the off-and-on work of a woodpecker echoing through the groves of giant trees that towered above us. The sequoias have been kings of that land for centuries, and visiting them was like stepping into a royal court. We felt honored to be there.

Everyone should have the opportunity to experience places like that. We need to protect America's wilderness, but increasing park entrance fees is not the way to do it.

Please sign this petition to weigh in on the request for comments - listed as: National Park Service Proposes Targeted Fee Increases at Parks to Address Maintenance Backlog (ID: 75576) / Document: Fact Sheet and Current and Proposed Fee Rates (ID: 83652).

I will make sure your petition signatures are delivered by the November 23 deadline and will follow up with additional ways you can ensure your voice is heard!