Three Americans from three different states have charged that the National Park Service is violating the law by refusing to accept cash payments at a number of parks, saying that NPS must accept ‘legal tender’—U.S. currency.
The would-be parkgoers, one each from California, New York and Georgia, cited 29 Park Service sites where cash is banned, and Park Service documents hint there may be more. NPS says handling cash and arranging security costs more than its worth and takes staffmembers’ time.
The plaintiffs point out that there are many people who either don’t have or prefer not to use credit cards, and are being effectively denied access to the parks. One reported that when she attempted to visit Fort Pulaski, Georgia, a ranger told her to take her cash to Walmart and buy a cash card that could be used.
