Race cars and cage fights - on National Park land?

Bare-chested UFC fighters and IndyCar races are planned for the White House South Lawn and the National Mall to mark the nation’s 250th anniversary and the president’s 80th birthday. Both locations are National Park Service lands administered by the agency. Advocates and career employees say the spectacles are inappropriate and disrespectful to the history and importance of the White House and the Mall, arguing they stray from the park service’s traditional mission. White House officials respond that the events are popular with everyday Americans and will celebrate patriotism and pride. The National Park Foundation is involved in organizing the events and created a limited liability company due to the scale of the celebrations.

"“These events are inappropriate and disrespectful to the history and importance of the White House and the National Mall,” said Jonathan Jarvis, who began his career as a park ranger on the Mall in 1976 and was named director of the National Park Service by President Obama in 2009."

"“will be one of the greatest and most historic sports events in history, and President Trump hosting it at the White House is a testament to his vision to celebrate America's monumental 250th anniversary,” said White House spokesperson Davis Ingle."

"Both venues are National Park Service land and are administered by the agency. The planned spectacles - UFC Freedom 250 and the Freedom 250 Grand Prix - stray so far from the park service's traditional mission and ethos that advocates and career employees are crying foul."

"White House officials insist that IndyCar and the UFC are extremely popular with everyday Americans: the race and the fights will be exuberant celebrations of patriotism and pride, they say. To organize this summer's events, the Trump administration asked the National Park Foundation - a congressionally chartered nonprofit that works closely with the park service and collects private donations to help maintain hiking trails and fund programs to get kids outdoors - to lend a hand."

Read at Los Angeles Times