CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) - The federal government has shelled out more than $120 million to spruce up Wyoming's seven national parks and historic sites in recent years, but some say more money is needed to address years of underfunding and new enhanced security.

In a conference call Wednesday, Interior Secretary Gale Norton outlined plans to remedy the growing problem and talked about proposed spending levels and improvement projects.

More than 200 parks projects - from new sewer systems in Yellowstone National Park and Devils Tower National Monument to safer boat docks at Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area - have been completed or are underway in Wyoming, Norton said.

The National Park Service has proposed spending $40 million on Wyoming's parks next year as part of a $1.3 billion proposed budget. Operating funds, Norton said, are at an all-time high.

"We have now more funding per employee, per acre and per visitor than at any time in the history of the National Park Service," she said.

Planned projects include $9.8 million for the continued restoration of Yellowstone's historic Old Faithful Inn, which turns 100 this week, and the rebuilding of eight miles of North Park Road in Grand Teton.

Rehabilitation of aging log cabin visitor centers at Devils Tower and safety upgrades to outhouses and visitor centers at Fort Laramie National Historic Site in southeast Wyoming are also planned.

"We are ready and willing to welcome visitors this summer and we hope people will continue having a wonderful experience at our national parks," Norton said.

While such improvements are welcome, Sen. Craig Thomas, R-Wyo., and some conservation groups say more is needed to make up an estimated $600 million shortfall in parks funding.

Thomas, a member of the Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, on Thursday will ask for another $250 million in funding to supplement the National Park Service's $1.8 proposed operating budget.

According to Thomas, current funding cannot keep up with rising utility costs, salary increases and inflation. It also doesn't help offset enhanced security costs required since Sept. 11, 2001, he said.

"People recognize they're getting more visitors all the time and it becomes more difficult to maintain the facilities," Thomas said. "We're asking for people to be able to enjoy the resources and at the same time protect the resources. It's tough."

Tim Young, a Jackson representative for the National Parks Conservation Association, agreed more congressional funding is needed. But he also pointed to the Park Service's increasing dependence on private partnerships for funding as a problem.

"I think that the efforts of the administration and Secretary Norton to enhance partnerships and citizens' involvement and organizations' involvement is appropriate, but that should be for that extra added step of excellence, not something you depend on for the basic needs of the parks," Young said.

In Grand Teton, rising costs have forced officials to cut back on hiring this summer. Campground operations will be contracted out next summer in a further effort to save money.

"We are just obviously working very hard to stretch our dollars as far as they can go," park spokeswoman Joan Anzelmo said.

On the Net:

National Park Service: http://www.nps.gov

Yellowstone National Park: http://www.nps.gov/yell

Grand Teton National Park: http://www.nps.gov/grte

AP-WS-05-05-04 1804EDT