Park Monroe

April 2, 2007
    The editorial "More on Monroe," March 21, dismisses the national park option for Fort Monroe because of the past and present low funding levels for the National Park Service. Since it was established in 1916, appropriations have never been high enough to satisfy those who manage and use these areas. Even if President Bush's $3 billion proposal is fully enacted, those of us who love the parks will correctly make the observation that the parks need still more money.
    The truth is that Congress does supply hundreds of millions of dollars for areas of the National Park System. Many essential needs for preservation, protection, interpretation and development are met each year. Recent maintenance and development projects for the Colonial Parkway and Historic Jamestown are examples.
    My observation over 42 years of working for the National Park Service in various management roles in five states is that Congress does provide better funding for parks, usually much better, than states or localities. If Fort Monroe would become an area of the National Park System, the city of Hampton, the commonwealth of Virginia and other organizations and individuals would need to be involved, but NPS leadership and congressional funding would be essential elements for accomplishment of long-range goals.
    If the goal is to preserve and enhance the historic, natural, scenic and recreational resources of the entire Fort Monroe area for public use and to achieve long-term financial sustainability, then a national park similar to the Presidio should be seriously studied. I would encourage everyone interested in Fort Monroe to check out what is happening at the Presidio and the Golden Gate National Recreation Area by going to www.Presidio.gov.
Alec Gould
Williamsburg