Funny the images that stay with you from childhood. Any time someone mentions the Civil War, there’s this snapshot that flits across my brain of being in my parents’ TV room watching the Ken Burns documentary on the subject. It’s nothing more specific than that, but I remember my whole family being glued to the TV for days. I was 12 when “The Civil War” came out. Four years later, Burns had us fixated again with his nine-part series on the history of baseball. He’s done much since then, including an acclaimed history of jazz, but nothing that really pushed the Thompson family buttons. That is, until this past week when “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea” came to PBS.

Crumbling sidewalks near the Jefferson Memorial are sinking into the Tidal Basin. Reflecting pools are filled with green, smelly water. And millions of visitors have trampled the soil into virtual concrete where grass can’t grow.

There’s a lot in the news about the economy turning around. Here’s a headline about foreclosures leveling off. There’s one that says housing starts are up. Says here the stock market is rallying and consumer confidence is improving. I say blah, blah, blah: Let the bad times roll. Before brandishing the pitchfork, hear me out.

The National Park Service is looking to stimulate summer vacations at national parks. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced last week that entrance fees at 147 national parks and monuments—including the Grand Canyon and Yosemite—will be waived on three weekends this summer. The weekends are June 20-21, July 18-19 and Aug. 15-16.

Virginia will receive $27 million in stimulus funds from the National Park Service for 37 projects to upgrade facilities at national parks and historic sites. The funding includes $579,000 for work at Richmond National Battlefield Park. Projects slated there include demolition of structures and removal of debris at Malvern Hill; elimination of trees that could prove hazardous to visitors; exterior repairs at Chimborazo Medical Museum; energy-efficiency projects and trail repairs.

National Parks: http://www.nps.gov Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site The home of the first black woman in the United States to charter a bank and become its president. 110½ E. Leigh St., Richmond; 771-2017 ext. 23 Petersburg National Battlefield Park Commemorates the siege of Petersburg from June 1864-April 1865, with battlefield and visitor centers located in Dinwiddie, Hopewell and Prince George Counties. 732-3531 ext. 200 Richmond National Battlefield Park Commemorates four major Civil War actions with battlefield sites and visitor centers in Richmond and Henrico, Hanover and Chesterfield counties. 226-1981 ext. 23 Virginia State Parks: (800) 933-7275; http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks Bear Creek Lake State Park - fishing, boat rentals, swimming, camping and hiking. Cumberland; 492-4410. Pocahontas State Park Virginia’s largest state park offers bike, hiking and horse trails, camping and swimming. Chesterfield; 796-4255. Highland Bridge Trail State Park - Ongoing 33.5 mile rail-to-trail conversion for hiking, biking and horseback riding in Cumberland, Nottoway and Prince Edward counties. First segment opened August 2008. (434) 315-0457. Sailor’s Creek Battlefield State Park Overton-Hillsman House, used as a field hospital during the Civil War battle, is open to visitors June through August. Picnic facilities; no water or toilets. Amelia County; (434) 315-0349.