Across the National Park System, declines in park staff are paired against soaring visitation levels in a discordant dance that challenges the National Park Service to accomplish its mission.

Approval has been given for a mountain bike trail to be built in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but there's no money dedicated for its construction, and park staff are still looking into how it should be operated.

With the final days of 2022 here, and the 365 days of 2023 about to debut, it seems to be a good time to reflect a bit on the past year in the National Park System.

The National Park Service's loss of special agents over the past 20 years means those who remain will not get involved with “felony investigations of property crimes, and crimes against society such as serious drug-related offenses," according to the agency's associate director for visitor and resource protection.