When a single F-35 fighter for the Air Force -- just one -- costs in the neighborhood of $100 million, and when the helmet for the pilot of that fighter costs $400,000, is it too much to ask for better funding for America's greatest idea?

Interior Secretary Sally Jewell was practically glowing over President Obama's $4-trillion-plus FY17 budget request, which seeks but $3.1 billion for the National Park Service.

"Highlights" of the request for Interior, she said Tuesday, include the president's "(c)ontinuing historic efforts to revitalize the Nation’s parks and public lands for the next century in recognition of the National Park Service Centennial."

Just days after Park Service Director Jon Jarvis announced that his agency's maintenance backlog was nearly $12 billion, the Interior secretary was applauding the president's proposed $250 million increase in the Park Service's "essential programs and operational needs."

But then, Secretary Jewell works for the president, and so has to support his request. And while the Republican-held Congress most certainly will reject it, the 306.6 million folks who visited a unit of the National Park System last year should lobby Congress to do the president a billion or more better for the parks.

While we are fast approaching the National Park Service's centennial, Park Service salaries continue to lag against those of their peers in the land-management agencies, morale across the agency continues to flag, and the National Park System's infrastructure continues to deteriorate.

Aside from the Find Your Park campaign, which seems to be succeeding in drawing more crowds into the parks, how is the Park Service itself being celebrated on its 100th birthday? As the centennial approaches, park managers are increasingly concerned about how they will manage visitation and resources this summer. The requests from Park Service headquarters to generate centennial events are wearing down some in the field.

What the agency needs is a serious dose of optimism, enthusiasm, and invigoration. One Park Service retiree recently quipped that what the agency needs is another Mission 66, that 10-year program to prepare the National Park System not only for its 50th anniversary in 1966 but also for the onslaught of Baby Boomers who were discovering the joys of seeing America in their Chevrolets.

The National Park Service is the second most-liked agency in federal government, according to a survey by the Pew Research Center, and yet the infrastructure and employees are not treated accordingly by those who hold the purse strings in Washington.

“Despite this encouraging movement away from years of damaging budget constraints that have harmed our parks, they still face significant challenges," Theresa Pierno, president and CEO of the National Parks Conservation Association, said Tuesday in trying to voice some optimism around the president's request. "The Park Service continues to lack the funding needed just to keep up with its now near $12 billion deferred maintenance backlog, the construction account central to addressing half of this backlog remains more than 60 percent below its level 15 years ago in today’s dollars, and there are not enough rangers and other staff to protect nationally significant resources and handle the record-breaking crowds heading to our parks.

How dire are things across the National Park System? According to the agency's own asset inventory:

* Water systems: There is $172.8 million in "critial systems deferred maintenance" in water systems across the parks landscape, and another $422.1 million in deferred maintenance that was not performed when it should have been;

* Waste water systems: Sewer systems across the parks currently face $114.8 million in critical systems deferred maintenance, and another $270.5 million in deferred maintenance;

* Trails: These paths face $173.2 million in critical systems deferred maintenance, and another $481.6 million in deferred maintenance.

And the list goes on, to the tune of $11.9 billion. Healthy parks, healthy people?

"One of the most important ways Congress can support parks as they move into their next century of service is to make sure next year’s budget includes significant increases to the agency’s maintenance and operations accounts," said Ms. Pierno. "The Park Service needs these resources to tackle overdue repairs, fill vacant ranger positions, leverage philanthropic support, protect parks from development, and allow our parks to thrive in their second century."

Before the parks can thrive in the Park Service's second century, though, they need to survive today's budget climate. Perhaps if the National Park Service had its own air force it would merit more attention from Congress and the president.