Your Dollars At Work

Fee collection at the new West Entrance Station

NPS / Robert Zuniga

 

The mission of the National Park Service is to "preserve unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the national park system for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations." Accomplishing this mission requires ongoing investments in facilities, maintenance, and visitor services.

Recreation fees provide a vital source of revenue for improving facilities and services for park visitors. The National Park Service collects entrance fees under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA), passed by Congress and signed into law by President George W. Bush in 2004.

Eighty percent of entrance fees collected at Joshua Tree National Park stay in the park and are used for projects directly related to visitor enjoyment, resource protection, and safety. The remaining 20 percent is distributed throughout the national park system, helping to support park units that do not collect fees.

Examples of projects in Joshua Tree National Park include:

• Improving park roads through resurfacing and painting.
• Enhancing campgrounds through the maintenance of fire pits, vault toilets, and BBQ grills.
• Updating exhibits and displays in visitor centers, at trailheads, and throughout the park.
• Maintaining and improving park trails by providing delineation, stabilization, and proper signage.
• Creating and conducting youth educational programs both in person and through digital media.

Learn more about your fee dollars at work in the National Park Service.

 

Recent and Upcoming Projects Supported by Fee Dollars

 

New West Entrance Station

West Entrance Station Construction

Joshua Tree National Park has completed construction of the new entrance station on the border of the park in the community of Joshua Tree to replace the current entrance.

The new entrance was built less than one half mile south of the current one and further inside the park. The station will include two inbound lanes, one outbound lane, and one bypass lane in each direction.

The project was funded by fee dollars collected at park entrance stations. Construction of this $5 million capital improvement project has been awarded to L&J Building Co. LLC based out of Missouri.

 

Improving trails at Joshua Tree National Park.

Repair and Improve Park Trails

FLREA funds are used to support the staffing and equipment needs of the trail crew at Joshua Tree National Park. This crew is dedicated to enhancing the park's trails through stabilization, delineation, and improved signage. Recent and upcoming projects include the 49 Palms Oasis Trail, Wall Street Mill, and Cholla Cactus Garden.

Upon completion, the Cholla Cactus Garden will comply with the accessibility requirements outlined in the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) by stabilizing the soil and constructing boardwalks.

 

A park ranger leads a hike at Cap Rock.

Ranger Programs

With visitation nearly doubling since 2015, FLREA funds make it possible to place rangers in high-traffic areas instead of only in visitor centers, allowing them to engage with visitors where they are.

Interpretive talks, guided hikes, climbing programs, and hands-on activities provide opportunities for all ages to explore the park in new ways. Expanded night sky programs, campground talks, and field presentations encourage visitors to venture beyond their campsites and experience more of the park’s natural wonders.

 

Campground facilities at Ryan Campground.

Facilities Maintenance

Fee dollars are essential for maintaining and enhancing visitor facilities throughout the park. FLREA funds allow us to hire additional staff, ensuring a clean, safe, and enjoyable experience for everyone.

This project supports 28 day-use areas, nine campgrounds, and three visitor centers, servicing a total of 499 campsites, group campsites, and restrooms. Regular maintenance tasks include restroom sanitation, trash collection, and grounds upkeep. With increased staffing levels, we can provide a higher quality visitor experience by consistently maintaining clean, safe, and sanitary facilities.

 

A PSAR Ranger helps visitors at Barker Dam

Preventative Search and Rescue

With fee dollars supporting the Preventive Search and Rescue (PSAR) program, we provide face-to-face hiking safety information to prevent accidents. These funds help recruit and train over 60 volunteers, share safety messaging through trailhead posters, videos, and outreach, and collect data to improve strategies.

Rangers and volunteers deliver "Hike Smart" guidance to reduce heat-related illnesses and climbing accidents. With nearly 3 million annual visitors, proactive safety efforts help lower medical evacuations. PSAR programs in parks like Grand Canyon and Yosemite have proven effective in mitigating hazards. Recognized with national safety awards, this initiative ensures a safer, more informed hiking experience in Joshua Tree National Park.

 

A clip from the Granite News Desk video series.

Education Programs

Using FLREA dollars to support staffing and supplies, the park collaborated with artists in residence to add a creative component to several curriculum-based programs. Favorites include creating paper models of desert wildflowers, water-coloring moody Joshua trees with natural ochre pigments, a directed drawing virtual field trip, and a collaborative series of paintings completed with 6th graders at Friendly Hills Elementary School.

Park education and media staff developed The Granite Desk news series to answer commonly asked questions about resources in the park for a student audience. FLREA dollars supported the staff development, acting, filming, and editing of six videos, plus English and Spanish versions of a field trip preparation video viewed by thousands of students annually.

 

Fee dollars allowed Joshua Tree National Park staff to install a new vault toilet at the Twin Tanks parking lot.

NPS Photo

Twin Tanks Vault Toilet

Fee dollars allowed Joshua Tree National Park staff to install a new vault toilet at the Twin Tanks parking lot. The new restroom will help create a more comfortable experience for visitors by providing a restroom for day users on the northern stretch of Pinto Basin Road.

Fee dollars help fund construction projects like this one and allow us to hire more facilities and maintenance staff. That creates a higher quality, cleaner, and safer visitor experience throughout the park.