from the president
#KEEPITPUBLIC
“America’s Best Idea.” It’s no accident that we talk about our national parks and other public lands with such superlatives. Aside from protecting some of the world’s greatest natural wonders, our system of public lands is profoundly American—reflecting not only our deep and compelling relationship with the land, but the democratic principles by which we share it.
Whether it’s the park down the street or a re-
mote Alaskan wilderness, public lands afford us a connection with nature and protect the places that honor our heritage. These are the places that remind us of who we are as a people and of where we came from—hallowed ground, from the childhood neighborhood of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to Civil War battlefields and the view from George Washington’s Mount Vernon. Our network of public parks, forests, and wildlands is the envy of the world. In this cen- tennial year of our National Park Service, it’s worth reflecting on all they offer us as individu- als, as communities, and as a nation. It’s a time to be thankful for the foresight of those who came before us—who safeguarded the land for future generations. It’s a time to celebrate our successes—like the restoration of oceanfront land to native people forced inland more than a century ago (page 30); the steady improvement of Atlanta’s city park network (page 42); and the establishment of Stonewall National Monument (page 19).
Most of all, it’s a time to do our part. We must renew our commitment to protecting and stewarding the public lands we cherish: because, make no mistake, they are under threat. We are all the “public” in “public lands.” But a small, vocal minority is opposed to the idea of sharing the land. Today, a number of elected officials are calling for the transfer of federal
We are all the “public” in “public lands.” It’s time to do our part to protect the lands we cherish.
lands to states, and for the removal of restric- tions on mining and oil exploration. They are also blocking the permanent reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which uses money from oil and gas leases to protect and expand parks and natural areas. Now more than ever, the rest of us must speak up on behalf of our public lands. After you’ve read the stories in this issue, please visit
tpl.org/publiclands and make your voice heard. Let’s not let America’s best idea become a sad memory.
Will Rogers president and ceo
TPL.ORG · 11
elyse leyenberger
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