There are two sides, at least, as to why Grand Canyon National Park remains open during the coronavirus pandemic, and history would point to the answer being Arizona's governor wants it open.

Invasive species, not the maintenance backlog, not the annual budget, and not political differences, pose the greatest threat to America's Best Idea.

Work for the National Park Service in Utah and you best be prepared to serve the best interests of Utah politicians. Why else, after Park Service staff at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area spent nine years working on the requisite environmental studies and public comment periods to allow ATV use in the NRA, would the agency's regional director issue a directive that all parks in the state open their dirt and paved roads to ATVs without similar studies?

The lack of a Senate-confirmed director of the National Park Service remains to be a demoralizing factor for the agency's workforce, which also has had no specific agenda to follow under the Trump administration.