This year marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, a pivotal moment for national reflection and for envisioning the country’s future. NPCA’s United by Parks campaign provides opportunity for all of us to commemorate this anniversary is an opportunity to commemorate America through the lens of our national parks, connect with our most treasured places, imagine what we would lose if they disappear, and take action to protect them.
America at 250
COMMEMORATE
National parks reflect who we are as Americans – where we’ve been and how far we’ve come. For more than a century, we’ve designated and stewarded them together as a country for our benefit and enjoyment now, and for generations from now. They are our most treasured places.
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The Places That Make Us
This year marks our country’s 250th anniversary. National parks unite us as a people, allowing us to revel in natural beauty, reflect on our nation’s history and renew our promise to protect these special places.
This anniversary is not only a time to reflect on how far we’ve come, but also an opportunity to think about the country we still aspire to be. What lands and stories do we want future generations to inherit from us?
CONNECT
The story of America’s fight for independence is told in many of our national parks. But that’s just one of many important and transformative “revolutions” that have shaped who we are today. Honoring these people, places and stories allows for a more complete and meaningful understanding of our country’s past, present and future.
United by Parks – The Places that Make YOU!
What do we want our national parks to be in the next 250 years? The answer is up to us! The choices we make today will shape our parks and what future generations will inherit, enjoy and depend on. Now is the time to start envisioning what’s possible.
We’re inviting park lovers to share their ideas and visions for the future of our parks in whatever form feels right.
Whether visual or written – think drawings, paintings, poems, short stories or something entirely your own – this is your chance to imagine and inspire.
Submit your artwork!
Click here to download the United by Parks template and make it your own.
Fill the page and the letters with artwork that lifts up the parks you love, the stories they hold and the future you want for them. Whether you’re commemorating your favorite places, exploring your connection to others through parks, imagining what’s at stake for our parks or envisioning how we protect and care for parks over the next 250 years, we invite you to share your story. All styles and mediums are welcome! This is about your voice, your vision and the role parks play in our lives.
Across geography, background and belief, national parks remind us what we hold in common and what unites us as a country.
IMAGINE
Our parks are facing the most challenging time in their history. Steps are being taken to accelerate access to drilling and mining on public lands. National monuments are once again on the chopping block. We’re seeing LGBTQ+ contributions to America’s history being erased from parks. And park staffing has been drastically cut to the point that many parks have limited hours at visitor centers and closed sections of parks because the staff who remain just can’t keep up. An already overwhelmed agency is being pushed to its brink.
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Which Presidents Have Created the Most National Monuments?
Presidents from both political parties have used the Antiquities Act to preserve the landscapes and historic places that help tell America’s story. Some of these stories are now being threatened for removal, and we will fight to keep them in our parks.
Here’s a top-10 list of presidents who have created national monuments on public lands.
This year we call on Americans to renew our century-old commitment to protecting parks and all they represent. A nation without them is unimaginable.
PROTECT
There are countless stories still to be uncovered and many people and places yet to be honored. As we look ahead to what our parks could be in the next 250 years, the answer – and the responsibility – is up to all of us.
United in Action. United by Parks.
Whether getting your hands dirty in a park, raising awareness on social media or influencing policies, every action counts. And when we combine those efforts and stand together, we can ensure that our parks continue to inspire generations to come. Each step forward is a step toward ensuring that our national parks and all they represent remain protected.
