National Park Service makes plans to the build 4000 square foot exhibit to display plastic dinosaur bones in undeveloped area

I was glad to see the El Paso Times publish today's story about the new Fossil Bone Exhibit planned in Big Bend National Park. There is a lot I can say about the article and petition, but for the time being I want to share with you some of the comments that Mr. Corrick of the National Park Service appears not to be aware of or acknowledge. In his interview with María Cortés González he states that he " was surprised by LoBello's negative response, saying that the majority of people who have commented on the project are enthusiastic." Below are some of the comments from people who signed the change.org petition that would no doubt take issue with Mr. Corrick's statement.

National Park Service: Cancel plans to build a new and larger Fossil Bone Exhibit and seek an alternative site in an area that has already been developed such as Panther Junction or Persimmon Gap. Learn more at www.iloveparks.com

· Marsha Koepp AUSTIN, TX 

I agree with every word written on this petition!

· Chuck Turvey CRYSTLA FALLS, MI 

This will degrade the existing site.

· Brandt Mannchen HOUSTON, TX 

Big Bend National Park should reduce development footprints and cluster them so that the views, vegetation, wildlife, and potential wilderness will be least affected and the costs will be reduced.

· Robert Wallace RIPON, WI 

It is important to keep the land in Big Bend National Park as natural as possible. Using land at as site already with construction is best for this facility.

· Lone Star HOUSTON, TX 

This construction will put more human weight on this fragile land and encourage more human traffic with more negative impact!

· Elizabeth DeMoultrie EL PASO, TX 

The National Park Service is "Charged with the trust of preserving the natural resources of America". Scraping the natural landscape to build a new building is not a form of preserving the natural resources. There is a limited supply of Natural resources and by using an existing building there is no energy spent to scrape, grade and destroy a natural landscape. By not building a new building there will be less construction and demolition debris and less need for new materials. The environmentally responsible thing to do is place the exhibit in an area already developed.

· Phil Koepp AUSTIN, TX 

Once again, as with an airport in designated wilderness, NPS wants to screw up what it is there to protect and conserve.

· Craig Weisbart LAS CRUCES, NM 

It is not necessary to go in and destroy a national park's wilderness area in the middle of the park. This could be easily placed at the entrance visitor's center with minimal impact to the park

· jorge saenz STUDIO CITY, CA 

We have Disneyland in California and Florida. We don't need the National Park Service to build one in Big Bend.

· Barbara Nehring EL PASO, TX 

There is far too little wilderness left in this country and especially in Texas

· Rose Janice HORIZON, CITY, TX 

Keep the park the way it is!!!

· Janae Reneaud Field EL PASO, TX 

Big Bend is beautiful place and an area that has very little disturbance, lets keep it that way!

· Gary Nakovic EL PASO, TX 

Maintain Big Bend National Park experience with minimal developement especially in remote areas of the park.

· Marshall Carter Tripp EL PASO, TX 

Big Bend is a beautiful area that can best be left alone! Build new displays where there is already disturbance...and why on earth put up fake dinosaur bones?

· Constance Woodman CLARENCE, NY 

One can always build a new building but one cannot build new wilderness. If you really want to show off dinosaur fossil history, use an "augmented reality" app. along a self guided trail so dinosaurs and fossils come to life without large cash investment and development.

· Marilyn Guida EL PASO, TX 

The first choice should always be not to disturb the wilderness. Plastic dinosaur bones can be displayed in an area already developed and impacted.

· Gary Roemer LAS CRUCES, NM 

Big Bend NP is one of the most remote regions in the continental US with incredible wilderness. This wilderness should be preserved at all costs. Please build your exhibit in an already disturbed area.

· Jim Hatcher FORT STOCKTON, TX 

I am a longtime visitor to BBNP since '77, I live in the vicinity and I enjoy the long unimpeded vistas the Park has. I can see very little about this structure and the infrastructure that would surround it that would improve any view. Spend money on improving existing infrastructure but please don't build more.

· Charles McCullough HOUSTON, TX 

Because a good friend endorsed it and that's good enough for me

· Cheryl Hanna EL PASO, TX 

Cancel plans to build a new and larger Fossil Bone Exhibit and seek an alternative site in an area that has already been developed such as Panther Junction or Persimmon Gap.

· Frederick Zink FERNLEY, NV 

This country can not afford anymore stupid, wasteful spending on rediculous projects such as this! My guess is....someone stands to gain monetarely from this, so their pushing it......unbelievable!

· Debby Price EDGEWOOD, NM
I don't think more land needs to be developed when a site is available

· Mark Kirtley ALPINE, TX 

Having worked as a volunteer at Persimmon Gap Visitor Center for many years, I've listened to thousands of visitors talk about why they love Big Bend. They often speak of a peace engendered by the wide-open spaces, a quality that the Park Service normally fiercely protects and a quality that buildings impact. Driving the gravel Old Ore Road or even the paved park road from Persimmon Gap to Panther Junction can feel like paradise, but a large exhibit at Fossil Bone, even a lovely one, would somewhat spoil the experience. Doesn't the Organic Act mandate that we preserve the scenery? And cannot education at a national park occur without compromising its beauty? Visitors do like wayside exhibits, but my impression is that they prefer the intimate and personal feel of the small ones, like the one at Anna Hannold's grave.

· Roger Siglin ALPINE, TX 

My experiences in Big Bend go back to 1966 when I was a ranger there. The existing exhibit is a disgrace and should be removed. I was therefore pleased when I heard the park was planning a new one. But the proposed structure to house exhibits is ugly beyond anything I might have imagined. I have frequently hiked in the hills across Tornillo Creek and this structure will impact the wilderness experience because it will be highly visible for hiking off of the Old Ore Road.

· SALVADOR GONZALEZ EL PASO, TX 

CONSERVATION

· Lois Balin EL PASO, TX 

degradation of sensitive natural landscapes

· Virginia Morris EL PASO, TX 

Keep the Park natural.

· Sharon Miles-Bonart EL PASO, TX 

More is not always better. This appears to be the case here.

· Jim Tolbert EL PASO, TX 

Building is in the heart of a wilderness area. There are better places to put replicas.

· Elva Diaz EDMOND, OK 

As a descendant of Leondro Silvas and other relatives that lived in Big Bend.before it was a National Park, do not build this. IF I cannot find my relative's burial site in Castolon because the crosses are no longer there we certainly do not need an infrastructure honoring dinosaurs. No.

· Levi Constancio EL PASO, TX 

Keep it wild.

· Robert Diaz EDMOND, OK 

I love Big Bend (it is where I met my wife). Do not destroy it by misplacing the exhibit in an undeveloped area.

· Dianne DeVine EL PASO, TX 

BBNP already has visitor centers capable of housing displays; current staffing patterns will be stressed to cover additonal exhibit, but lack of staffing could create safety issues. Have use statistics justified a need for a new exhibit?

· Ad Konings EL PASO, TX 

There are already enough structures in the park spoiling some of the views.

· Carlos Lujan MEXICO 

Is is a subject that include us us!!!

· Daniel Wright WALHALLA, SC 

As a former employee and resident of BBNP (1978-1981) I love the wilderness aspect and don't feel there is substantive value in 'another' building. Leave the desert alone. LEAVE it WILD. Make a smaller exhibit at PJ headquarters.