Yosemite National Park officials released a revised draft of the Merced River Plan. An earlier of the controversial plan would have restricted recreation and removed swimming pools from the national park's famed hotels.
"In a major reversal, Yosemite National Park officials have dropped controversial plans to ban a wide variety of recreational activities in Yosemite Valley, including ending bike and raft rentals and tearing out swimming pools at the Yosemite Lodge and famed Ahwahnee Hotel," reports Paul Rogers.
The proposed Merced River Plan walks the fine line of park and open space protection: how to protect the natural conditions of watersheds, meadows, and wildlife habitat, while also providing access to the public, in accordance with the democratic ideals of the National Park System.
Rogers details the revised plan, which includes the following measures:
- Restoring 189 acres of meadows in Yosemite Valley.
- Increasing the number of Yosemite parking spaces by 8 percent
- Increasing the number of campsites in Yosemite Valley from 466 to 640.
- [The] historic Sugar Pine stone bridge, built in 1928 and located behind the Ahwahnee Hotel, will also not be removed -- as had been proposed to control erosion. Instead, parks officials will launch an engineering study to determine how to keep the bridge and reduce erosion."
In response to the previous plan, Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Granite Bay, whose district includes Yosemite provided the following soundbite in opposition of the plan's restrictions: "The Park Service is hanging out a 'Tourists Go Home' sign."
FULL STORY: Yosemite National Park drops plans to ban bike and raft rentals
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.
Site of Race Riot in Springfield, Illinois, Designated as National Monument
President Biden has designated the site of the 1908 Springfield race riot as a national monument, honoring its historical significance.
Illegal Roads Threaten Lake Mead’s Shoreline
As visitors seek out ways to reach the lake’s increasingly distant shoreline, officials say illegally created roads are damaging environmental and cultural resources and leading to hundreds of calls for rescue for stranded vehicles.
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.
Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.
Delivering for America Plan Will Downgrade Mail Service in at Least 49.5 Percent of Zip Codes
Republican and Democrat lawmakers criticize the plan for its disproportionate negative impact on rural communities.
Test News Post 1
This is a summary
Test News Headline 46
Test for the image on the front page.
Balancing Bombs and Butterflies: How the National Guard Protects a Rare Species
The National Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap uses GIS technology and land management strategies to balance military training with conservation efforts, ensuring the survival of the rare eastern regal fritillary butterfly.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service