Big Bend National Park Mismanaged More Than $250,000 in Equipment Purchases

This report presents the results of our inspection of purchases made during fiscal years 2013 and 2015 at Big Bend National Park in southwest Texas following information we received that the park had purchased air conditioning units and shade shelters but never installed them.

Our objective was to determine the facts and circumstances surrounding this reported information. We found that the park purchased 22 air conditioning units and 26 shade shelters that it never installed, totaling more than $250,000 that could have been put to better use.