Newly released National Park Service documents show that visitors to Utah's national parks used a federal feedback initiative to criticize the Trump administration and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum following a request to report signs deemed 'anti-American.'
Details of NPS feedback initiative
According to Moab Times, the National Park Service recently released comments from its Freedom of Information Act library following a campaign launched last year. The initiative involved rangers placing signs with QR codes on bathroom doors and in visitor centers, asking visitors to report any signage that cast Americans in a 'negative' light or failed to emphasize the 'beauty, grandeur and abundance' of natural features.
National scope of visitor comments
The agency received more than 35,000 comments nationwide, with approximately 1,700 entries referencing Utah's five national parks or other federal lands in the state. While some responses were humorous, many visitors expressed frustration with park management and federal leadership.
Feedback from Zion National Park
At Zion National Park, which recorded 227 entries, commenters frequently focused on the need for more staff and better trail maintenance. One visitor criticized the lack of resources, noting that a single open entrance gate could cause 30-minute delays. Other comments targeted leadership, with one person rating rangers a '10/10' while giving Secretary Doug Burgum a '0/10.'
Feedback from Bryce Canyon National Park
At Bryce Canyon National Park, which received 170 entries, some visitors specifically requested the removal of the QR code signs, stating they were a distraction from the landscape and a reminder of 'offensive and deluded policies' of the current administration. Other feedback ranged from requests for more historical signage to creative jokes about Martian chessboards.
NPS response and Capitol Reef feedback
The National Park Service has not yet responded to inquiries regarding how it intends to utilize the collected feedback. At Capitol Reef National Park, which saw 88 entries, visitor concerns focused on infrastructure issues like recreational vehicle dump stations and livestock maintenance.
