Outdoor Retailers Back Revitalization of National Parks

Jan 25, 2008 by Lara Jones

$46B Recreation Industry Owes Success to Nation's Parks

(KCPW News) More than 17,000 people are in town for the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market at the Salt Palace. While buyers are talking to vendors about the latest winter sports gear, tradeshow attendees are also working collectively to advance a political agenda. At the top of that list is the health of America's national parks:

"So these are the crown jewels of our country and they're under serious threat. There's a big problem here - they're not being funded adequately, funding is decreasing, because of that we're starting to see participation declines, and obviously that's a huge threat to our industry because we've grown up as the national parks have grown up."

Frank Hugelmeyer is president of the Outdoor Industry Association, the premier trade association for companies in the active outdoor recreation business. His group backs the National Park Centennial Initiative to reinvest and restore America's nearly 400 national parks, a park system that turns one-hundred in 2016. Hugelmeyer even wants to make the issue part of presidential politics:

"We absolutely will be going to that level. In fact, a lot of our preparations this year are setting ourselves up for success for the next administration to really take this mantle on as one of their key platforms."

Hugelmeyer says the outdoor recreation sector wouldn't be the $46 billion industry it is today without national parks. Click here for a Midday Metro interview with Hugelmeyer.

Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom. Copyright 2008 KCPW