CNPSR: How sequestration will hurt visitors to America’s top parks

(Feb. 22, 2013) -- Sequestration will cut visitor access to the rim of the Grand Canyon, significantly delay the spring opening of key portions of Yellowstone and Yosemite, reduce emergency response help for drivers in the Great Smoky Mountains, limit access to the beach at the Cape Cod National Seashore, and impair the experiences in many other ways for millions of visitors at America’s national parks, according to a news release issued by the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees this week. In addition, the news release says local, regional and state economies that depend on national parks will take "huge hits" as visitors are either turned away or skip visits due to the impact of the sequestration budget cuts.