Budget Cuts Force Gettysburg To Skip Maintenance Tasks

[BerkeleyBorderGuard]

From The WGALchannel.com

WGAL

Budget Cuts Force Gettysburg To Skip Maintenance Tasks
POSTED: 11:38 am EDT June 28, 2004

GETTYSBURG, Pa. -- The revered Civil War battlefield is getting a bit rundown these days after years of inadequate federal funding, said officials at Gettysburg National Military Park. The park estimates that its $6.2 million operating budget only covers about two-thirds of its annual needs. That has meant less money for regular maintenance of the park and more unchecked wear and tear on its relics.

Effort to restore 300 cannons and their carriages has been hampered by lack of funds, said Dave Dreier, park maintenance chief. Grass at the park may not be cut as fast this summer as in previous years and broken windows in a park barn will probably not be fixed. National Parks Conservation Association Senior Vice President Ron Tipton is calling on the Bush administration to fulfill a pledge he made during the 2000 campaign to erase the maintenance backlog at the park.

http://www.thewgalchannel.com/travelgetaways/3468513/detail.html#

[BarryDusel]

Re: Budget Cuts Force Gettysburg To Skip Maintenance Tasks

These budget cuts do indeed come at a bad time. I understand that GW may have alot on his platter. We as historians know that w/o a past there is no future. That considered. It is very disturbing that the budget problems further compound a more monsterous problem. That being that we, in this generation, are quite possibly the last that will be able to stop the raping and pillaging of our open ground, our farms, and yes our historic sites.
Right now our heritage is being stolen from us by men and women, foreign and domestic that do not give a hoot about anything other then the bottom line. As we in the private sector in many forms of partnership generate the funds needed to save some of the lands in danger . All that the Central Government really needs to do is maintain what they've got. It's a harrowing thought , but I fear that unless something drastic happens. We are going to need to back off saving what is in danger of being lost to the developers and instead began to generate cash to maintain what we've saved.
So what can we do? As a worker I'm loathe to volunteer my timefor Park maint., etc. Especially when I understand that there is nothing more that Government likes to do is replace employees with volunteers. I don't like the idea of volunteering at a job that a man formerly supported a family with. So it leaves me in a dilemma. I don't want to see my heritage stolen, and destroyed. So how can I, or we collectively stop this? How effective will it be to petition our Government? I guess it's time for us to get even more active.

[ElizabethClark]

Re: Budget Cuts Force Gettysburg To Skip Maintenance Tasks

Well, one thought: Adopt a Window.

While it can be very difficult to come up with several million dollars, would it be terribly difficult to come up with the money to buy new (preferably really sturdy) windowpanes for the damaged building? To pay for and re-seed the park meadows with grasses and wildflowers indigenous to the area, that don't need a perfect manicure to be attractive?

I realize that getting 'round the gov't red tape might be a bit of a trick, but if the park is really strapped for funds, and small groups of people are willing to provide small amounts of money dedicated to a particular project, what's the fuss? Especially if the group is not only raising the money to replace the physical materials, but also for the expected hourly wage of a worker to replace or repair the thing... I wonder how far out of the way the bureaucracy will step, if groups come forward and say, "Here's the window fund, and here's a private glazier to replace it, and it's already paid for."

(The cynical part of me says they won't go for it... can't justify upping the budget next year if things are paid for by private citizens.... but I hope the cynic is wrong.)

[ktfrench]

Re: Budget Cuts Force Gettysburg To Skip Maintenance Tasks

For those willing to donate their time, Gettysburg has an "Adopt a Position" program (at least it was still active last year) where you can donate your time to do routine maintenace at a site of your choice. A few years ago, our detachment spent the weekend planting grass, clearing brush, etc. at the Fredericskburg Artillery position on Confederate Avenue.

Regards,
Kevin French

[Jake Marley]

Re: Budget Cuts Force Gettysburg To Skip Maintenance Tasks

I've asked people in the NPS about volunteer opportunities and my impression is that they never turn away volunteers provided any efforts more involved than picking up trash or clearing brush from trails are orchestrated with the park staff.

Moreover, there are other parks that could use "help" too, including Hampton NHS in Towson, which isn't a Civil War site per se, but is important to Antebellum history, as is Hopewell Furnace NHS in Elverson, PA, which interprets the American Industrial Revolution. Visiting either of these parks was a useful exercise for learning about how the Jacksonian Americans (and their children of the War years) lived and worked. If GNMP--the flagship of the eastern battlefields is in trouble--these parks may be doomed.

I realize this is not directly related to GNMP and its preservation, but since someone described preservation in a broader context, I felt that mentioning these was not inappropriate.

Nic Ellis

[dusty27]

Check with the Friends

Anyone wanting to help out might want to check out the local preservation org, Friends of the National Parks at Gettysburg – www.friendsofgettysburg.org

They may have some projects/ideas for interested people.

[Michael Comer]

Re: Budget Cuts Force Gettysburg To Skip Maintenance Tasks

And don't forget your state and local sites. I guarantee that most of them are more strapped for funds and help than the NPS.

I have worked in historic site administration for over 18 years and I have seen the petition method work. I have also seen people jump when a legislator gets on board. I have also seen NPS sites that had 3 times the staff I had taking care of 20% of what I had and singing the blues about not having enough. For example, I currently run 2 historic sites, 2 state parks and also take care of a small battlefield marker with 2 maintenance people and 1 seasonal maintenance worker, 1 full-time interpreter, 1 half-time interpreter and 3 seasonal interpreters. Fortunately we are not hurting that badly for operational and project funding. It's tough but we do it because we have too and we all love what we are doing despite the hardships. That's what keeps us doing it. Nothing against the NPS and the great job they do but I venture to say there are other places that could use the help of people like the ones on this forum much more than they.

I don't like the idea of volunteering at a job that a man formerly supported a family with.

I think this kind of attitude will make the conditions worse especially at the local and state level. The fact is the job is gone, the funding is gone and the person in that position is gone. Whether we like it or not the work they did is not being done. It doesn't make sense to me for someone that really cares about a place and is concerned with its preservation, to not step up to the plate to help save it because they choose to take an idealistic stance in protest of budget cuts. If you can give some time, please consider it for the good of the site and preservation. To quote the late preservationist Jerry Russell, "If you won't do it, who will".

Literally petitioning the government is more effective at the local and state level I think. I have seen it done with good effect. You might be surprised at how few people it takes to get the attention of a state representative or senator. I think petitions are a good way to go. If you ask people to call or write letters they will not do it becuase it takes time and they have to think about it or remember to do it. But, if you have a petition in hand and tell them what it is for, they will sign it if they back your cause. It is easy for them and they feel they are helping.


I have been thankful, very thankful, for people who chose to take time from their lives to help us preserve and interpret and part of history so that others might benefit and learn from visiting that facility. Could use a few of those folks right now.

[Charles Heath]

Re: Budget Cuts Force Gettysburg To Skip Maintenance Tasks

Maintenance costs are staggering, and deferred maintenance costs even more in the long run.

For those who have been watching for years and years, this is a fairly standard Gettysburg NMP maintenance funding annual press release. It serves to remind people just how much money it costs, and encourages the general public to become involved. It's a normal budgeting tactic, and the big truth is the nugget of wisdom in knowing that for GNMP and other sites, the allocation of maintenance funds doesn't begin to cover the needs. That reads "needs," and not "wants." The situation is typically more bleak at the state and local level, to echo previous comments. With few changes, that same article can most likely be written for a site near you.

Most historic sites welcome volunteers, and many sites have formal volunteer programs, friends groups, and in some cases several different groups that support a site in a specialized manner. Usually, it's a release form, a handshake, and a big thank you -- and smile -- for your time and effort. The time spent volunteering at sites doing maintenance chores can be made fun, and can reap benefits for you and your living history group. For example, some sites waive user fees and special use permit fees for volunteer groups, and for at least one site the latter can be as much as $50. Some groups take that $50 and donate it back to the park, which pulls $50 from the general fund (think black hole), and puts in into a more flexible account.

We focus on preservation and interpretation to a great degree, and this is a good thing, but we also must realize somebody out there must also maintain the natural and man-made features. You can help, and thank you for reminding me to make an early summer phone call to certain central Virginia battlefield....

Charles Heath