What the Government Shutdown Means for Our National Park
Photo Courtesy: Kurt and Edwige Moses | NPS
Dear friends,
As you may know, the federal government shutdown has resulted in the closure of national parks across the country, including our own Mississippi National River and Recreation Area. During this time, our colleagues at the National Park Service are furloughed, and their essential work of caring for the river and serving the public is on hold.
This means:
Visitor services and park-led programs are indefinitely paused.
Resource protection and maintenance activities are delayed.
Park employees—the people who welcome visitors, keep trails safe, restore habitats, lead school field trips, and share the river’s stories—are absent, through no fault of their own.
As the nonprofit partner of the park, Mississippi Park Connection helps bridge the gap in funding and resources the national park staff needs to care for the river and public lands around it. We do not replace the National Park Service. Their work is essential and irreplaceable. What we can do is help the community understand what’s happening, why it matters, and how we can remain connected to the park even during this time.
Already this year, the National Park Service has lost a significant number of its permanent workforce. The possibility of additional reductions-in-force would make it even harder for them to protect the river, connect visitors to its story, and steward public lands for the next generation. These challenges remind us how vital park staff are and how fragile their future can feel without sustained support.
The impacts of a shutdown are not abstract—they are immediate and tangible for our park and community:
Caretaking and stewardship of Mni Owe Sni/Coldwater Spring is imperiled, affecting its long-term ecological health
Youth education programs that connect young people to the river are paused.
Habitat restoration projects and volunteer opportunities may be disrupted.
Future public programs we have planned with the park may be canceled, though it is too early to say for certain. We will share updates as we know more.
Here’s how you can help keep the spirit of the parks alive during the shutdown:
Reflect. Take a moment to remember what the national park in our river corridor means in your life. Whether that’s a quiet moment along the Mississippi River, a walk through the prairie at Mni Owe Sni/Coldwater Spring, or time spent enjoying the outdoors in another cherished park space, these places hold deep meaning for each of us. Share a memory or a story with us that captures your connection to the river and park—we’ll carry these forward until the park is fully open again.
Support. Consider making a donation to MPC. Your generosity helps us sustain our work so that when park staff return, we’re ready to meet the moment together.
Honor. Join us in thanking park staff. Send us a note of gratitude and we’ll share your messages when our colleagues return from furlough.
Even while the government pauses, our park remains deeply meaningful and so does our commitment to connecting people to it. Thank you for standing with us and with the people who dedicate their careers to protecting the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area.
With gratitude,
Ellen Reed
Executive Director
Mississippi Park Connection