National parks – Perfect place for stimulus spending

The Obama administration is looking for shovel-ready projects to help create jobs and revive our moribund economy. Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, hopes to point the president and Congress to the nation’s sandbox — our 84 million-acre, 391-property system of national parks.

After decades of fiscal neglect, the underfunded National Park Service has amassed a massive maintenance backlog. Approximately $8.7 billion is needed to rebuild, restore and refurbish roads, restrooms, campgrounds, trails, piers, boardwalks, offices, visitor centers and assorted outbuildings. And under the Bush administration the deferred-maintenance backlog grew at a rate of $700 million per year, threatening to turn our nation’s pristine playgrounds into money pits.

Full Story: http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/ci_11565932