Balancing Park Access and Preservation

Re “Yosemite Valley Plan Must Allow for Families,” letter, July 26: I believe your letter writer misunderstood your July 21 editorial. The plan, which includes busing similar to Zion National Park, is a good thing for Yosemite and will not discourage people from camping. My husband and I camped a week at Zion National Park using its bus system. It was a pleasure not trying to find parking spaces at the most popular hiking spots or driving behind a long line of cars. We ate meals at our campsite.

As I understand it, campers will still be allowed in Yosemite in designated campgrounds. It’s the day-use vehicles that will be affected. The no-car policy works in Zion; why not in Yosemite?

Pamela Connell

Lake Elsinore

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It is interesting that The Times considers the 1997 floods in Yosemite a “boost” to the effort to create an effective management plan. I found the floods tragic because they further restricted the public’s access to the park in many ways, including eliminating campsites.

What is the purpose of creating a park if the public cannot enjoy it? It is my duty as chairman of the House resources subcommittee on national parks to strike a balance between ensuring public access to our parks and preserving the environment for appreciation by future generations. The National Park Service has the same mission. Unfortunately, the management plan it supports fails to provide that critical balance, but it is something that my legislation will accomplish.

Rep. George Radanovich

R-Mariposa