Corporate Sponsorship Of Parks Considered

Unlike Taco Bell’s prank newspaper ads touting a phony purchase of the Liberty Bell, this is not an April Fools’ joke:

Some powerful senators and Clinton administration officials are backing a bill that would allow big corporations to spend roughly $10 million apiece to become “official sponsors” of the national park system.

For their largess, the corporations would get no billboards at scenic overlooks, no company banners at park entrances. Instead they would receive the right to use an official sponsors’ logo and slogan in ads and on products.

A non-profit foundation would oversee the program, selecting sponsors, screening the companies’ ads for tastefulness and disbursing the money raised. Backers estimate the sponsorships would raise $100 million a year, which would help clear up the national parks’ $4 billion maintenance backlog.

National Park Service Director Roger Kennedy told a Senate committee this week that once a few loopholes have been plugged, he will enthusiastically support the bill, co-sponsored by Republican Frank Murkowski of Alaska and Democrat Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut.