A proposal was scrapped yesterday to allow advertising and marketing in our national parks in return for big money donations. One year ago, the Park Service proposed giving some donors the right to put their names on rooms, benches and bricks. This, along with the suggestion to allow alcohol and tobacco companies to become donors for the first time, was dropped in new guidelines issued by Park Service Director Fran Mainella.
While conservation groups lauded the decision, decrying the notion of corporate logos sullying the beauty of our natural wonders (although they have no problem with that publicity whore John Muir,) I think the happiest party must be the many bison who were facing the humiliation of having the words “Can you hear me now? Good!” tattooed on their flanks.