Nonprofit Shoulders Bulk of Cost in Improving Yosemite National Park

A nonprofit organization is teaming up with the National Park Service to preserve the sequoia trees in Yosemite National Park and improve visitors’ experiences there, reports The New York Times.

The project will add elevated walkways among the giant trees, improve the roads, expand a parking lot, and remove gift shop and a tourist tram. About $16-million will come from the National Park Service and the Federal Highway Administration, and the nonprofit Yosemite Conservancy will shoulder $20-million of the cost.

As the National Park Service’s 2014 budget of $2.98-billion hits a five year low, philanthropic organizations are contributing more to improve the nation’s parks. The Yosemite Conservancy has been contributing $5-million to $10-million annually to Yosemite park.

Sue Beatty, a Yosemite restoration ecologist, says the trees will be more “resilient” as a result of the improvements. “We are concerned about these trees if the climate is going to be changing dramatically,” adding, “We want it to be like you’re entering a cathedral, so you have respect for the trees.”