By Kathy Chouteau
As Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park celebrates its 25th anniversary in Richmond, looming federal cuts to national parks are making the local staff nervous.
Sarah Pritchard, executive director of Rosie the Riveter Trust, the philanthropic partner of the national park which has 35,000 visitors annually, told the Standard that no staff members have been laid off in Richmond, but that two staffing cuts made at John Muir National Historic Site in Martinez have been felt at the Richmond park.
John Muir and Rosie the Riveter are two of four regional National Park Service (NPS) parks that also include Eugene O’Neill National Historic Site in Danville and Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial in Martinez.
“When two at another park are let go, other people have to sort of come in and help with where those gaps are,” said Pritchard.
She added, “So the bigger picture is where we are being affected: It’s stress, it’s physically, mentally having effects on staff, and that’s shared amongst many other federal workers. And so, this is a time for all of us to be of support.”
According to the National Park Service Conservation Association, 9 percent of the National Park Service was ordered to be cut. The cuts include eliminating 1,000 probationary staff, freezing vacant permanent positions and delaying hiring of seasonal employees, the Association stated. This comes as the National Park Service a record 331.9 million recreation visits in 2024.
On Saturday, about 80 community members gathered outside Rosie the Riveter Park’s Visitor Center to protest the federal cuts, one of more than 400 across the nation. Pritchard expressed appreciation for the support.
The Rosie Trust executive director highlighted how, during WWII, people of all abilities gathered to help with the Richmond Home Front effort “and what transpired was incredible.” Pritchard called national parks apolitical places that bring people together, and encouraged community members to support the park by visiting the park and park events.
That includes Friday, March 21, when the Visitor Center will celebrate the park’s 25th anniversary on what will be Rosie the Riveter Day. Also on the horizon? The return of the ever-popular “Rosie Rally” Saturday, June 7 at the Visitor Center, an event which had taken a pause during the pandemic.
Learn more about other upcoming events associated with the park’s 25th anniversary here. The Visitor Center is located at 1414 Harbour Way S., Suite 3000, in Richmond.