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    Back to To the Point

    To the Point

    The National Parks: Will America Save Them?

    With the sagging economy, Americans are vacationing closer to home and the national parks are taking a beating. But that's been true for a long time. Threats include development near the Everglades , air pollution in the Great Smoky Mountains , and overcrowding in Yosemite Valley . Forget preserving the parks in a "pristine condition."

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    By Warren Olney • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

    With the sagging economy, Americans are vacationing closer to home and the national parks are taking a beating. But that's been true for a long time. Threats include development near the Everglades, air pollution in the Great Smoky Mountains, and overcrowding in Yosemite Valley. Forget preserving the parks in a "pristine condition." Watchdogs say it's now a matter of repairing the damage before it gets worse. We hear why the next few months could be critical to the future of one federal institution most Americans really love.

    The full episode

    3 of 3
    America's National Parks: Preparing for the Second Century
    1. 0:00BP Says It May Drill Again in Spill Reservoir
    2. 7:47After 65 Years US Finally Attends Hiroshima Memorial
    3. 43:36The National Parks: Will America Save Them?You’re reading this
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Warren Olney

      former KCRW broadcaster

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Darrell Satzman

      Producer

    • KCRW placeholder

      Katie Cooper

      Producer, 'One year Later'

    • KCRW placeholder

      Karen Radziner

      Managing Producer, To the Point & Which Way LA?

    • KCRW placeholder

      Dale Ditmanson

      Superintendent, Great Smoky Mountains National Park

    • KCRW placeholder

      Pete Geddes

      Director of Development, Property and Environmental Research Center

    • KCRW placeholder

      Tom Kiernan

      President, National Parks Conservation Association

      NewsNationalPolitics

    The full episode

    3 of 3
    America's National Parks: Preparing for the Second Century
    1. 0:00BP Says It May Drill Again in Spill Reservoir
    2. 7:47After 65 Years US Finally Attends Hiroshima Memorial
    3. 43:36The National Parks: Will America Save Them?You’re reading this
    Back to To the Point