Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States, and as such is part of the National Park System. How has recent upheaval in the system affected Puerto Rico?
Puerto Rico’s National Parks
San Juan National Historic Site is a U.S. National Park as well as a World Heritage Site. The site includes Castillo San Felipe del Morro, Castillo San Cristóbal, most of the city walls, the San Juan Gate and Fort San Juan de la Cruz.
El Yunque, Puerto Rico’s gorgeous rainforest, is a national forest and also a national park. There are also many smaller and less well-known national parks in Puerto Rico, from Isla De Cabras to Tortugero Park.
The National Park system preserves the natural beauty of the nation, and also interprets the history and culture of the nation, while providing wholesome recreation for Americans and visitors. This is as true in Puerto Rico as at Yellowstone Park or Yosemite.
Changes in the National Park system
Recently, the National Park Service has faced some changes, including the firing of 1,000 full-time employees. A hiring freeze required the service to cancel more than 2,000 seasonal and permanent job offers. At least another 1,000 workers who were considered to be in their probationary period have lost their jobs, too.
It is not known exactly how many of these workers held or would hold jobs in Puerto Rico, but the News Journal reports that jobs have been lost at Castillo San Felipe del Morro, Castillo San Cristóbal, and El Yunque National Forest.
Ricardo Cortés Chico, Discover Puerto Rico’s Vice President of Alliances and Industry Affairs, told the newsw organization, “The hope is that at least operations at the island’s facilities remain unaffected and that any budget cuts do not compromise the ability to preserve these sites and attract visitors.”
That may be the hope, but the National Park Service has been open about the concerns they have. They worry that keeping the parks clean and welcoming will be impossible even if it possible to keep them open. Some of the changes experts predict include shorter open hours, longer lines, safety concerns, limited access to amenities, and lower standards of cleanliness regarding trash and wastewater. In Puerto Rico, where tourism has been blooming recently, changes of this kind could have economic impact beyond the jobs of the individuals who lose their jobs.
The communities where the parks are located benefit from visitors to parks, and their economies will also be affected.
The changes are part of a broader effort to reduce government spending.
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