Government shutdown would close National Parks in Ohio and some historical sites

Craig Webb, Akron Beacon Journal
Updated ·2 min read
A sign posted in October 2013 at the Botzum Trailhead of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park alerts visitors to the area's closure due to a government shutdown. Ten years later, the threat of another shutdown looms this weekend.
A sign posted in October 2013 at the Botzum Trailhead of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park alerts visitors to the area's closure due to a government shutdown. Ten years later, the threat of another shutdown looms this weekend.

If the federal government shuts down over the weekend, the impact could be felt in Ohio for travelers, nature lovers and even school field trips.

The state is home to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park that extends from Akron to Cleveland, as well as the Wayne National Forest that covers more than 250,000 acres of Appalachian foothills of southeastern Ohio.

Both would be impacted by a government shutdown.

While it would be virtually impossible to completely close such large expanses of land, a shutdown could mean closed-off parking lots, restrooms and visitor centers and no ranger-led programming.

What other sites could be impacted by a government shutdown

A federal closure would also impact other touristy sites across the state like the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park and the Hopewell Culture National Park in Chillicothe — even the Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial in Put-in-Bay.

And the potential budget impasse would also shutter other historical sites.

Ohio is also home to number of U.S. presidents.

Places like the James A. Garfield home in Mentor, the William Howard Taft home and the National First Ladies Museum in Canton would all be affected if the government shutdown happens.

During the government shutdown in 2018, the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton was forced to close its doors, too, until a new federal budget was hammered out.

What would a government shut down look like at federal parks in Ohio?

The National Parks Conservation Association estimates the closure of the parks would affect as many as one million visitors a day nationwide and have an economic impact of $70 million a day for each day in October.

The association says all National Parks amenities — including visitor centers, campgrounds, research facilities and museums — would be forced to close because no funding would be available.

All educational programs, ranger hikes and special events would also be canceled, and park maintenance from emptying trash cans to mowing would be suspended.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Government shutdown would close National Parks. What to know