WASHINGTON – The Interior Department is poised to begin naming benches, bricks and rooms in national parks after private donors, a practice that critics say sends mixed signals about industry influence on public lands policy.
Park Service officials say the new guidelines, which could be approved by early next year, would simply make it easier for the agency to recognize corporations and individuals who are already giving. Names already appear on plaques around parks, but the new policy would make donors more prominent.
“We hope to create a positive tone for philanthropy,” said John Piltzecker, chief of the parks’ partnership office.
The guidelines, which are under review, would also allow some high-level employees to solicit donations.
Piltzecker says the signs would be tasteful and unobtrusive. But environmental groups argue it’s a slippery slope.
Jeff Ruch, executive director of the advocacy group Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, said the policy “starts a slow-motion commercialization of the national park system.”
“What will be allowed stops just short of licensing ads for ‘The Official Beer of Yosemite’ or ‘Old Faithful, Brought to You by Viagra,’” Ruch said.
Under a worst-case scenario, Ruch said, companies that have a direct interest in national parks would take advantage of the new policy. If snowmobile manufacturers were recognized for donations to Yellowstone National Park, for example, it might appear as if the industry were attempting to influence debate over the use of their vehicles in the park, he said.
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