Basejumper.com - archive

This makes me wonder what the NPS would do if jumpers purchased land under the NRGB:

http://news.yahoo.com/...us_flight93_memorial

The seven property owners own about 500 acres still needed for what will ultimately be a $58 million, 2,200-acre permanent memorial and national park at the crash site near Shanksville, about 60 miles southeast of Pittsburgh.

"We always prefer to get that land from a willing seller. And sometimes you can just not come to an agreement on certain things," park service spokesman Phil Sheridan said.

The park service plans to condemn two parcels totaling about five acres — land, he said, he (Tim Lambert) had always intended to donate for the memorial.

Of course, we can't get the current land owner to sell us property under the NRGB, partially due to NPS pressure.

park service plans to condemn two parcels totaling about five acres

Hmm, I thought the gov usually used imminent domain,
but I guess since the intended use is non-commercial
then they might not be able to get away with that.

I can't believe I forgot this old story told to me by Jon Dragan before his death in 2005:

Back in the 1980's, Jon Dragan owned the Bridge Day LZ that is now under NPS control. At that time, Jon was making good money by charging $1/person for rafters coming off the New River. At that time, this was the only place to take out. The NPS didn't like it and Jon wasn't interested in selling his property. Shortly thereafter, Jon found resistance in renewing his rafting business license. If he sold to the NPS, this resistance would go away. Ultimately, he sold the current Bridge Day LZ in order to keep his business operating. And jumpers have suffered ever since.

Why do they need almost 4 square miles for a memorial? Doesn't the National Park system already lose enough taxpayer money?