Depending on where you are today in Joshua Tree, you may be seeing demonstrations in support of the National Park Employees who were dismissed earlier this month. They are part of a larger series of protests happening across the United States at 433 parks, bringing awareness to the cuts that are facing the National Park Service and other federal public land agencies. The first protest is taking place in downtown Joshua Tree from 9:00 to 11:00 on the corner of Park Blvd. and Hwy 62 – a sure to be heavily trafficked intersection of visitors heading into the park via the west gate. It will then move into the park at Cap Rock from 12:00 noon to 2:30 p.m.
If you are looking for a way to support the National Park – you can donate to the Joshua Tree National Park Association which is the primary non-profit partner of the National park, as well as nonprofits like the National Parks Conservation Association. Locally there are also volunteer opportunities that support public lands through the National Park as well as non profits like the Mojave Desert Land Trust.
As we rapidly move into the busy season, and with a national park currently understaffed after the layoffs – it’s a good reminder to be extra patient if you try to get into the park after 9:00 a.m. on the weekends. The Joshua Tree entrance tends to be the busiest, with a usually much shorter wait at the Twentynine Palms entrance. Having cash or your national parks pass ready will ensure a smooth entrance once you hit the gate, but prepare for packed parking lots at some of the park’s more popular attractions.
With less rangers in the park, there are more opportunities for vandals. Just inside the park’s west entrance there have been reports of graffiti sprayed onto rocks near the Boy Scout Trail:
If you encounter graffiti or other similar vandalism in the park – you can document it and send it into the park, they have an email address specifically for it: [email protected].
Thanks to @visit_joshuatree for video of the graffiti as well as sharing the email address for reporting vandalism.
