Episode
News: Parts of Big Bend To Close, Sequoias in Danger, Rushmore Fireworks Return
- Podcast
- Parkography
- Published
- Mar 19, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 598
- Processing state
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Summary
This week in national park news: The National Park Service reports 323 million recreation visits in 2025 (down 2.7% from 2024), Mount Rushmore will host fireworks for the U.S. 250th anniversary amid ongoing regional wildfire concerns. A new CBP map no longer shows a primary border wall through Big Bend, instead labeling the area as detection technology, while Big Bend’s Chisos Basin will close starting May 1 for up to two years for lodge replacement and water infrastructure work. Lawmakers introduce the Save Our Sequoias Act to fund reforestation, monitoring, and forest management after major tree losses, and Indiana will add all-terrain track chairs to every state park at no cost. 00:00 Big Changes Ahead00:34 2025 Park Visitation Report02:19 Mount Rushmore Fireworks Return04:08 Big Bend Border Wall Update05:41 Chisos Basin Two-Year Closure07:03 Save Our Sequoias Act08:47 Indiana Parks Accessibility Upgrade09:46 Wrap Up And Thanks