Public Affairs

Why Commercializing National Park Campgrounds is Controversial

KDNK | By Gavin Dahl

Published October 25, 2019 at 4:28 PM MDT

Associated Press Northern Arizona correspondent Felicia Fonseca reports on a new proposal for working with private companies to modernize campgrounds at National Parks in her new article. KDNK's Gavin Dahl lays out why this is controversial, including debates over keeping parks natural vs. adding amenities like wi-fi, plus concerns over profiteering or increasing the cost of access to public lands. Additionally, the proposal orginated during disgraced former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke's tenure. Zinke was subject to at least 15 investigations when he resigned after voters put Democrats back in charge of the U.S. House.

Tags

Gavin Dahl

Gavin became one of the youngest station managers in public radio on February 1, 2017. He is a writer and producer with a passion for community media. Prior to starting at KDNK as news director in 2016, Gavin worked for national radio programs Alternative Radio with David Barsamian and Nonprofit Radio with Tony Martignetti along with local stations KGNU Boulder, KYRS Spokane, KRBX Boise, KAOS Olympia, and Air America Radio affiliate KPTK Seattle. His nonprofit management experience includes Open Media Foundation, where he led a government transparency team, and Common Frequency, where his policy advocacy supported dozens of noncommercial radio startups. Boulder Weekly, Raw Story, Austin American-Statesman, Boise Weekly, and The Sopris Sun have published his reporting. His TV credits include directing teams at Colorado Channel, crewing for Democracy Now!, and hosting on Free Speech TV. He graduated from the Evergreen State College in 2008 with a BA in media production and community organizing.

See stories by Gavin Dahl