When Public Parks Go Private

"The survival of urban parkland across the country depends heavily on private largesse. Parks in Atlanta, St. Louis and Boston are managed by nonprofit foundations...President Bush announced plans to seek $1 billion in private donations to spruce up the nation's 390 federal parks and monuments...some activists worry that the public parks are becoming too private. They say wealthy donors may have influence over who gets access to park facilities, and efforts to make parks self-supporting can turn them into commercial developments...Corporate donations, concession fees and funding plans linked to commercial development are feeding New York's most expansive park-building boom in decades...Community leaders worry that residents most in need may lose their local parks to those who can pay for the privilege."