94 years ago today, Congress signed the National Park Service Organic Act, which created the National Park Service. Today, the
The author and family overlooking the valley of Yosemite National Park on one of the many weekend getaways.
National Park Service oversees almost 400 designated properties, including 58 with “national park” status.
Growing up in the heart of Los Angeles, near the notorious Rampart Division of the LA Police Department, I had my first national park experience in high school when my parents decided to take the kids on a camping trip to Yosemite National Park. While the beauty of the landscape was a shock coming from an urban jungle, I’m fortunate to now feel “at home” whenever we go back for a visit—either there or any other natural protected area—which is many weekends throughout the year.
We’re fortunate that leaders back in the day had the foresight to preserve such areas so that we can continue to enjoy them today. I hope we can continue this legacy by having the courage to push for real innovative solutions to address issues like climate change, even if it means less profit for a select few.
