JTNPA Gratitude event Feb. 12, and Images From The Shutdown

The Joshua Tree National Park Association is hosting a community day of celebration to honor those who helped support during the latest government shutdown.

Tuesday, February 12, 2019

Welcome Address

10 am – Refreshments will be served.

Park Headquarters (74485 National Park Drive, Twentynine Palms, CA 92277)

 

Native Plant Nursery Tours

30 minutes

10:30 am, 11:30 am, and 1:30 pm

Reservations: 760-367-5522

 

Museum Archives Tours

30 minutes

10:30 am, 11:30 am, and 1:30 pm

Reservations: 760-367-5522

 

Oasis of Mara Tours

45 minutes

10:30 am and 1 pm

Oasis Visitor Center

 

Keys Ranch Tours

1 hour

11:15 am and 12:30 pm – meet at locked gate at these times

Reservations: 760-367-5522

 

Open House with Superintendent David Smith

5–6:30 pm – Refreshments will be served.

Joshua Tree Visitor Center (6554 Park Boulevard, Joshua Tree, CA 92252)

 

We are extremely grateful to each and every person and organization in our community who assisted during the shutdown. There were so many of you that it is hard to keep track!

JTNPA Staff and Board 

 

These images below cover the past month of federal shutdown and an open Park, but skeleton staffing. At first no maintenance and almost no law enforcement took us through the New Year, and then Park staff returned in some measure (primarily Law enforcement and Maintenance). This is when the ‘Toilet Paper Angels’ stepped up bigly to minimize a potentially horrendous situation with 91 vault toilets and over 100 trash bins from overflowing and creating an unthinkable mess. Only after 35 days did full staffing return. FOJT was a meaningful part of the coverage during this unprecedented episode in federal government functionality. We join JTNPA in thanking the many organizations and individuals who stepped up to provide material help, as well as so many who offered volunteer energy and resources even after the crisis was stemmed. We stand ready to help again and will be announcing new programs that address some of the most egregious impacts to people dedicated to working for and with our beloved Park.