**National Park Centennial Initiative**

***The Future of America's National Parks***

**Summary of Public Comment**

**May 2007**

The American people provided ideas that helped to establish the vision
for *The Future of America's National Parks*, the report that was
presented to the President on May 31, 2007. Secretary Dirk Kempthorne
and Director Mary Bomar kicked off a series of more than 40 public
listening sessions across the country, where participants were asked to
focus their responses on the following:

-   Imagine you, your children, or future generations enjoying national
    parks in 2016 and beyond. What are your hopes and expectations?

-   What role do you think national parks should play in the lives of
    Americans and visitors from around the world?

-   What are the centennial projects and programs that you think should
    be highlighted for completion over the next ten years?

**[Listening sessions were held in the following
locations:]{.underline}**

Alamosa, Colorado

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Anchorage, Alaska

Atlanta, Georgia

Boston, Massachusetts

Carlsbad, New Mexico

Copper Center, Alaska

Denali National Park, Alaska

Denver, Colorado

Durango, Colorado

Fairbanks, Alaska

Flagstaff, Arizona

Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Grand Junction, Colorado

Hagerstown, Maryland

Helena, Montana

Hinton, West Virginia

Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Kemmerer, Wyoming

Los Angeles, California

Lovell, Wyoming

Miami, Florida

New York, New York

Peninsula, Ohio

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Richmond, Virginia

Rome, New York

Salt Lake City, Utah

San Antonio, Texas

San Francisco, California

San Juan, Puerto Rico

Seattle, Washington

Sitka, Alaska

Somesville, Maine

St. George, Utah

St. Louis, Missouri

Torrington, Wyoming

Tucson, Arizona

Washington, DC

In addition, comments were submitted through a website and through the
mail. The response was very positive and members of the public as well
as National Park Service employees shared their ideas about to the
future of their national parks and the projects they would like to see
completed to prepare the parks for their centennial in 2016. More than
4,500 people attended listening sessions nationwide and submitted
comments online from 49 states, some territories, and seven other
countries. Upon closure of the comment period, over 6,000 comments were
summarized.

**[Major themes from public comments]{.underline}**

The following themes received numerous comments and stood out as areas
the public would like the NPS to focus its Centennial Initiative
efforts:

-   **Conservation, Preservation, and Resource Protection:** Comments
    support NPS's focus on conservation, preservation, and protection of
    the national park system's natural and cultural resources. Comments
    express hope that future generations will experience these resources
    in at least as good as their present condition, and some refer to
    resources being preserved "unimpaired."

-   **Education**: Comments call for the expansion of education programs
    to include broader education outreach and develop new ways to engage
    children. The NPS can play a vital role the in engaging American's
    youth through activities that are relevant to them, using active
    learning and new technology, and in reconnecting children with
    nature.

-   **Funding**: Comments support long-term funding for the National
    Park Service to ensure parks have adequate staffing, maintenance,
    and general operations and management needs.

-   **Concerns of Commercialization**: Comments express concern about
    commercialization of the parks, not wanting them run like businesses
    or seeing corporate logos or brands in national parks.

-   **Recreation and Experiences**: Comments support a wide variety of
    recreation opportunities, from more traditional camping experiences
    to new uses including mountain biking. Parks are valuable as
    destinations where visitors can connect with nature, experience
    natural sounds and scenery, find tranquility and refuge from modern
    life, and be inspired by their visits to both natural and cultural
    sites.

-   **Diversity**: Parks are important in celebrating the diversity of
    American heritage. Parks need to be relevant to diverse populations,
    engaging people in native languages and reaching low income and
    minority populations.

-   **Environmental Leadership, Stewardship, and Sustainability**:
    Comments call for the NPS to be a leader in environmental issues and
    a premier example of stewardship of natural and cultural resources,
    nationally and internationally. Comments call for NPS to engage the
    public and lead by example with issues such as sustainability,
    including green design and alternative transportation.

-   **Mission and Marketing**: Comments support continued focus on the
    purpose and mission of the NPS, wanting to make sure the NPS and its
    mission are recognized with marketing or branding; the uniqueness of
    the NPS should be known nationally and internationally.

# [Public comment summary]{.underline}

This report summarizes the comments received by organizing them by
themes, summarizing comments under each theme with a statement(s) (in
*italics*), and providing representative quotes directly from the
public\'s comments.

Comments regarding programmatic or specific centennial public/private
partnership projects are summarized at the end of this summary,
organized by theme.

***Accessibility - Increase accessibility for people with physical
limitations***

*Comments express a desire to increase accessibility for people with
physical limitations, including ADA accessibility and elderly visitors,
and feel the NPS should be a leader in accessibility.*

     

**Representative Quotes:**

"I would hope that as many sites as possible would be accessible to
everyone and that no new structures be built which aren\'t as accessible
as possible. By accessible I do not mean merely meeting the ADA minimum
requirements since these do not guarantee accessibility. Since retired
persons are more likely to WISH to visit national parks and yet be more
likely to find it difficult, it is important that NPS remember that: a\]
an increasingly large part of the population is hard of hearing or deaf
so do not rely solely on public address systems for announcements,
provide amplification and t-coil friendly listening systems in lectures
and video-shows, and look people in the face when talking to them; b\]
many people use some sort of mobility equipment and require room to
off-load it as well as needing appropriate surfaces and lack of curbs,
steps, high thresholds, halls and doors which are easily traversed,
etc.; c\] use high-contrast materials \[both color and textures\] for
those with vision impairments as well as for those who do not pay
attention well to where they\'re going; d\] families with children will
also appreciate many of the accommodations made for those in wheel
chairs such as low sinks with easily operated taps, low drinking
fountains, doors which open to permit strollers to enter; e\] many
disabilities are invisible so do not assume one is not there if you
cannot see it."

     

"As the parent of a child who uses a wheelchair but loves to explore the
outdoors, I would like to see more wheelchair accessible trails. I also
want to not that several trails we have visited listes as \"accessible\"
have not truly been. A wheelchair, particularly a manual one, is almost
impossible to move over gravel, or through sandy areas. As such, even if
the ground is level, if there is a stretch of sand or gravel more than a
foot or so wide, the trail itself is inaccessible. I believe that this
would serve several populations: those born with physical disabilities,
those aging into a need for mobility assistance, and those veterans and
others suffering from a traumatic experience resultiing in the need for
mobility assistance."

     

"My son is multiply disabled (including wheelchair bound and legally
blind). My hopes and expectations for our family and future generations
of families with disabled children will be able to access/enjoy the
national parks. As more and more children, through modern medicine are
surviving and thriving with various disabilities, it is essential that
our communities include programs/activities that our children can
participate in."

***Accessibility - Improve overall access to parks for all
populations***

*Comments express a desire to improve overall access to parks for all
populations, such as extending shoulder seasons or providing various
degrees of access to park resources.*

**Representative Quotes:**

"I would hope that national parks and monuments in 2016 are still as
accessible as they are today and were in the past."

"The national parks should provide various degrees of access to the
beauty and history of this country, with extensive wilderness areas but
also access for cars and short-distance hikers/backpackers to a
sufficient amount of that beauty and history."

 

*Comments express a general desire for future generations to have access
to parks and park resources.*

     

**Representative Quotes:**

"Each park should provide its visitors with options of how to visit the
park, suggesting things to do during a short visit, full day visit, and
multi-day visit. Also, a range of accommodations should be available
from nice hotel to modest (and affordable) motel; and from campsites
with hookups to primitive camping."

 

"Hire people during the winter to provide interpretation during the
shoulder seasons"

   

"the National Parks are our nation\'s front yard, where we put forward
our best face to the public and world, as well as our back yard, where
we can relax and play. The Parks should strive to be accessible and
relevant to all Americans. Ideally, we could all go visit in person, but
many of us can\'t pack up and visit all the parks. So also making the
information and beauty and history of the Parks available through
electronic means is important as well\...public television and travel
documentaries, internet sites etc."

"I expect future generations to have more access and opportunities to
national parks than the previous. This is far too vital to the earth and
to the healthy well being of mankind not to have these improvements."

***Carrying Capacity - Concern about overcrowding in parks***

*Comments express concern about population increase and the subsequent
pressures and impacts on parks, such as overcrowding and traffic
congestion, and a desire for the NPS to take action to protect park
resources.*

**Representative Quotes:**

"Our national parks are fragile places that require protection. Some of
our parks are being loved to death by visitors like myself. I encourage
the NPS to come up with ways to mitigate the impact of visitors on the
natural environment."

 

"As the population of the world increases, the demands on our national
parks become strained. This may mean that in the future not everyone
will have unlimited access to the national parks. It may be that for the
parks to survive in pristine condition only a limited number of folks
may be allowed to visit, or only allowed to visit once in a lifetime. Or
visitors may have to be selected by lottery."

"We need to expand the parks and add more parks to keep pace with
population growth and sprawl development. I hope there will be enough
open space and natural areas for everyone to experience and enjoy,
without huge crowds and without expensive fees."

***Conservation, Preservation and Resource Protection - Focus on
conservation, preservation, and protection of natural and/or cultural
and historic resources***

*Comments express support continued focus on conservation, preservation
and protection of the national park system\'s natural and cultural
resources.*

**Representative Quotes:**

"I think the Park Service stands as a guardian to these sacred lands."

 

"My greatest hope is that public use and access to our national parks
will not diminish or degrade the natural resources and treasures that
comprise them. \[Parks\] should provide the opportunity for visitors to
personally experience the extraordinary natural and historical features
and aspects of our land which they preserve and protect, again, without
significant degradation of those features"

"They should be showplaces of the natural and scenic and cultural
resources that are precious, often unique, and uniquely important for
water and wildlife preservation. They should be secure refuges for the
wildlife and vegetation they harbor, as well as being educational
\"institutions\" and places of pride for the American people to enjoy.
They should be managed for perpetuation of these assets, and activities
that tend to damage and diminish the viability of these assets should
not be allowed."

 

"Many of America\'s national parks are internationally recognized
through the UN and other international organizations. The parks with
these designations preserve historical and natural phenomena that are of
importance to all of mankind - transcending politically boundaries and
often conflicts. National parks are one of the most democratic things a
society can do for itself and while it takes a significant financial
committment, it is a bourgeoning endeavor even in developing countries
such as India, Tanzania, and China. By preserving places of natural and
cultural significance, governments and their people can ensure that any
one from any place may learn about these unique landmarks."

"Since our National Parks provide a unique role in the preservation of
mankinds\' assets, I think this focus needs to be perpetuated. Citizens
of our country and from all over the world are enriched by the efforts
the Park Service provides in the form of a positive learning
environment. Natural phenomenon as well as histories of ancient cultures
are preserved so all may be enriched by the experience. This is our
heritage and responsible stewardship is critical or these things will be
lost to all forever. The National Park Service is but one of the many
tools that our people have to safe guard these national assets for our
country and the world."

"My hope is that our parks will be in a more pristine state than they
are today. Although people should have access to the parks, the parks
should not be turned in amusement parks with recreation as the main
focus especially when some things such as bike paths can be bad for
wildlife."

"The national parks should play an important role in the lives of
Americans by remaining places where we can connect with the natural
world on its own terms. We should be very careful about\
\"urbanizing\" the parks. Protection of the resource MUST be the first
concern of the NPS at all times. Visitors need to experience the parks
in as natural a state as practical, nowithstanding some necessary access
roads and visitor facilities and interpretation, etc."

"National parks should preserve the best of the natural environments,
historically important locations and living cultural traditions of a
society. A visit to a national park should cause you to think, to learn,
to experience, and grow. A national park should not be an artificial
Disneyland, but give visitors the freedom to design their own memories.
Park staff should be knowledgeable, friendly, efficient and effective
and reflect not only what it means to be an American, but an American in
a particular place and time."

"I hope that the national parks are PROTECTED in as pristine a way as
possible for ALL future generations \-- not just for me, not just for my
children or their children, but forever. Simple as that. The \"seventh
generation\" principle probably suffices as a touchstone."

"My hope is that National Parks will be in as good a condition as they
are at this writing and better where possible in terms of natural and
cultural resource management, preserving natural process, and
recreational opportunities."

 

"Uphold the conservation mandate in the 2006 management policies to
guide sound management decisions, thus ensuring parks remain unimpaired
for future generations"

 

"Please keep our National Parks as close to the wilderness they once
were for future generations. They will be destroyed if you bend to
pressure to turn them into recreational parks for special interest
groups de jour."

"My grandchildren will understand the benefit of large wild spaces
preserved for future generations \-- those spaces that insure clean
water and air, that protect and repair the damage wrought by their
parents and grandparents and great grandparents. They will look to the
National Parks and all conservation efforts as the things that sustain
us, that provide vast areas for a deeper richer understanding of the
planet on which we live and the stunning biodiversity of which we, as
humans, are only one small part."

"I would like to see us give to the next generation a national parks
system that is even better preserved that what we found. I would like
our current parks to be as beautiful as they were when I first visited
them, and I would like to see new parks that reflect our evolving sense
of preservation, conservation and history."

     

"Uphold the conservation mandate in the 2006 management policies to
guide sound management decisions, thus ensuring parks remain unimpaired
for future generations. Ultimately, the quality of management and
protection in our parks directly reflects on our society\'s core
values."

 

"They must be preserved in the strictest sense. They are the nation\'s
foremost natural, historic and cultural resources and they should remain
available to future generations. They are playgrounds, but very special
playgrounds where man\'s tracks must be very light."

"Even if one of us never visits a park, they should have every
confidence that these treasures are will taken care of and will be
available, in good condition, for future generations."

"My major expectation for the national parks is that they continue to
preserve and protect the historical sites, natural landscapes, natural
wonders, and wildlife they were designated to safegard."

"Our parks are part of our heritage. The USA is one of the few remaining
countries with large protected areas that allow visitors from everywhere
to learn about how the natural world shaped our country\'s ethos,
history and development. I\'d like to see the parks promoted and
protected as sacred places, just as sacred as any monument on the
Washington DC mall."

"Parks can protect our greatest natural resources for citizens and
visitors to enjoy. They can help us learn about our past and appreciate
not only our history but our future together. They help us recognize and
enjoy the special places that we inhabit."

"The NPS should hold to its mission of preserving and protecting
resources and allowing for public enjoyment and use as appropriate and
secondary to the preservation role. I envision the NPS as a place where
restoration of resources takes on an increasingly important role so that
park areas that have suffered due to overuse or where there has been
excessive resource use prior to an area becoming a NP, can be restored
and maintained."

 

*Some comments express support of preservation goals before recreation
priorities.*

**Representative Quotes:**

"My hope is that the essence of these parks will remain for future
generations. The difficult balance between preservation and use must
weigh on the side of insuring that there is still a place worth visiting
in the future. In some cases limits on the number of visitors or the
types of recreational activities permitted may be necessary. Although I
wish everyone could see every national park, I would not want to
sacrifice the parks themselves to achieve this goal."

"The National Park Service should maintain their mandate of preservation
over development and seek to minimize impacts from recreation"

 

*Some comments refer to park resources being preserved unimpaired for
future generations.*

**Representative Quotes:**

"Please hold fast to your original founding mission, as stated in the
original 1916 Organic Act, \"the fundamental purpose to conserve the
scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein
and to provide for the enjoyment for the same in such manner and by such
means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future
generations.\"\
\
"Please hold onto your promise to preserve the land and its original
wilderness features for the enjoyment and re-creation of the people. Do
nothing to impair it for future generations."\
\
"I have heard several good, detailed suggestions to make parks more
user-friendly, encourage student exchanges, create heritage corridors,
interpret for deaf and for other languages, etc. However, the primary
challenge for the next 100 years will be in preserving the resources. "

***Concessions and Commercialization - Comments about current or future
concessions services***

*Comments about current or potential future concessions services in
parks, including the quality of service and levels of service provided.*

**Representative Quotes:**

"That concessionaires are held to the highest standard for service and
accessibility, and contracts are short-term and routinely reviewed. Some
services should be returned to federal provision, and not out-sources to
the lowest bidder."

"That we encourage the consessions within the park system to have
professionally trained staffs that can assist, support and co-partner
with the National Park service staff dedicated to bringing the visitor
experience to the highest level.That these staffs are not only
professinally trained in the job that they hold but also in the
qualities of the park, its culture, its history, and its importance in
preservation."

"Companies that provide services to the parks should be required to do
so in environmentally safe, state-of-the-art practices."

***Concessions and Commercialization - Concern about commercialization
of national parks and corporate influence***

*Comments express concern about commercialization in parks and seeing
signs of corporate influences in parks, such as corporate logos.
Comments also express concern about park operations and do not want
parks run like businesses.*

**Representative Quotes:**

"My hope is that our government does not allow private interests to
corrupt any national park system. There should be a return to
emphasizing the natural setting and there should be no intrussion by
corporate America, even if it brings the much valued \"partnership\"
dollars."

"That this experience does not become an amusement park business where
only profits and revenue are the driving issues. It is my hope that the
Park Service will be properly funded by our goverment. I hope the park
service will be come a tribute to the american tax payer. An experience
we can only have as a collected effort by all citizens that by paying
our share of taxes, our nation can provide this experience which in no
means could be provide by any single individual."

"The hopes for future generations are based on current attitudes and
initiatives. The trend of contracting out services diminishes the role
of stewardship and reduces the financial possibilities for park
improvements. My expectation is that all parks will be non-concession
and more self sufficient. If fees can be shown to go directly back into
the stewardship of the parks, generally, people will feel better about
spending their dollars."

"I want the park to be as COMMERCIAL and CORPORATE FREE as they are
now\-- NO \"Grand Canyon brought to you by Patagonia\" or bronze plaques
on visitor\'s centers or park benches."

 

"KEEP out advertisers and commercial intrests, even if they donate
money. (Commercial interests can certainly donate money, but I do NOT
want the name of the company than splashed all over the park. We already
are bombarded with advertising in the rest of the country. I would like
to be free from advertisement when I visit a National Park. These are
the parks owned by all, and protected by the government. I see NO GOOD
coming from allowing advertisers into the parks."

     

"Secondly, the Park Service must not allow corporate naming or influence
in parks. Parks are a refuge for the non-commercial, and must be
distinguishable from the indelible mark of commercialism so prevalent in
our everyday lives."

***Cultural Resources - Comments regarding Native American issues and
management of cultural resources***

*Comments reflect on the importance of cultural resources and the link
they provide between past and future.*

**Representative Quotes:**

"National Parks provide the overview for the context of local and
regional historic sites, landmarks and natural resources. They are the
\"big picture\" resource that allows us to evaluate, develop and promote
our local historical and cultural resources."

 

"I think National Parks should be the present day link between the past
and the future. It is essential the the full development of any person
for there to be an understanding of their place in history, a respect of
the past and a desire to craft a future that is better and informed from
where we have come. National Parks, both nature preserves and historical
monuments, offer this present day link to past and future. I hope that
future generations will be able to experience nature and places of
historical interest as we do today but with better information, access
and understanding of these places and their importance to our
individual, national and international identity."

***Diversity - Make parks relevant to the diverse populations***

*Comments identify a need for parks to stay relevant to diverse
populations, engaging people in their native languages and reaching out
to low income and minority populations.*

**Representative Quotes:**

"I want our parks to be the places where foreign visitors go to learn
authentically about the people who are America and to better understand
the things we share and the ways in which we differ."

"Create more Park projects within an urban setting. Reaching out to
urban families and society in general is important."

"I think they should be a place to bring a diverse section of people
together, young and old, rich and poor, American and visitor."

"Park rangers & park partners must reflect the ethnic/culture diversity
of Americans. Park Partners priortizing diversity must be supported &
all must be encouraged to diversify & build further access."

"Our cultural and historic parks have important stories to tell both
Americans and foreign visitors about who we are. These parks must be
interpreted intelligently and sensitively. They must be able to tell
their stories to everyone and their resources must also be carefully
maintained..\
\
I am a Civil War historian and I am particularly interested in the
national battlefield parks. I do hope that the National Park Service can
in some way wed this initiative with the Civil War Sesquicentennial,
which starts in 2011. The Civil War is a key part of the story of the
United States and the national battlefield parks are the places best
equipped to tell this story. Each battlefield has its core group of
enthusiasts who could be rallied to help the nation remember this
important anniversary. In addition, the National Park Service might be
able to develop important relationships with organizations and donors
interested in the Civil War."

     

"As a teacher of non-and limited-English-speaking children and adults in
San Francisco for over 35 years, I want to submit the following
suggestions based on my experiences:

America\'s population is becoming more and more diverse therefore ALL
public information should be accessible to as many ethnic groups as
possible. The NPS should also seek information from different ethnic
groups as well. Visitors from around the world also enjoy our wonderful
parks.

To preserve our natural treasures, important information SHOULD reach
all visitors so that no accidents or negligence could result in harm to
anyone or cause the destruction of our beautiful parks. For
example,it\'s possible a non-and limited English speaking visitors may
innocently start a b-b-que fire in certain locations because he/she is
not aware of fire dangers during certain seasons.

Therefore, NPS should use as many VISUALS as possible to inform and warn
visitors of certain park problems. Surveys should be very explicit( not
complicated English structures) and have lots more visuals so that even
young children can respond. The NPS web pages should be multilingual,
explicit and provide lots of informative visuals...."

"The US population and economy have changed considerably since the
founding of the National Park System. My sincere hope is that people now
growing up without close contact to nature (e.g., Last Child in the
Woods), growing US ethnic and urban minorities, and affluent adults who
increasingly have access to adventure travel bargains overseas will
continue to find relevance in the US National Park System in the 21st
Century."

***Diversity - Celebrate the diversity of American heritage***

*Comments identify the important role national parks play in celebrating
the diversity of American heritage, including the natural and cultural
heritage of the nation.*

**Representative Quotes:**

"Parks are to provide a refuge from overdevelopment, loss of cultural
and historical landmarks and to teach Americans and visitors the lessons
of history. Preserved sites associated with significant events and
persons serve as reminders not to repeat mistakes of the past, as well
as to acknowledge the heroism and perserverance of our forbears who
serve as role models for future citizens."

     

"I dream of an America with national parks that celebrate the ways in
which we continue to change and grow in numbers and diversity."

"National parks should reflect the incredible diversity and history we
have not only as a nation but as a global community"

"Parks should encourage Americans to experience our natural heritage, to
gain an environmental ethic, to have fun in the outdoors, and to relax.
The parks should also be a source of encouragement for other nations to
preserve their own natural and cultural heritage. Finally, the NPS
should continue to provide technical assistance to parks around the
world."

"National Parks should be places\...where our collective identity as
Americans can be reflected upon in serene and beautiful spaces."

 

"National parks must reflect the best of the American people, in all of
their diversity. They should be places where skin color differs, where
multiple languages are spoken, where program content reflects cultural
experience and where people with physical disabilities are able to have
a true wilderness experience. They must be places where the
relationships we have as humans to our environment (urban or wild) are
illuminated and deepened. National parks must also be accessible to all
people and must be free, open places of acceptance and respect of
difference."

     

"Our parks should represent the very best of our country. They contain
the most beautiful natural areas, the most interesting bits of our
culture and our dedication to the idea of keeping these places around
forever and educating people about them. If you think of the great
places in America, you are bound to think of the things contained in our
National Parks, whether you live in this country or outside of it."

"Ensure our national parks continue to represent the depth and breadth
of America\'s history, culture and landscapes."

"National parks must continue to serve as bellwethers for natural and
cultural process change through time. They must be places of refuge,
solitude, inspiration, and encouragement. Parks must be available to the
full range of American citizens. Parks must be places of exploration,
learning, and experiencing our collective national heritage."

"My expectation is that the NPS will reflect the multiple heritage and
cultural contributions made by both free and enslaved Americans. There
is no doubt that the NPS has embarked upon such a journey, but it is
also true that the current sites within the NPS do not encompass the
many sites where such heritage is to be found."

"The Initiative should ensure that our national parks represent the
depth and breadth of America\'s history, culture and landscapes, even
more than they do today; it should improve conservation over what is
currently being done, protecting our natural heritage; and it should
create reliable ongoing sources of public funding to support annual park
operations and keep up with necessary maintenance of facilities and
infrastructure."

"The National Park System preserves our nation\'s natural and cultural
heritage while providing people with opportunities for real experiences.
For new immigrants, foreign visitors, and for native born Americans, it
helps with understanding the significance of places, people, and events
that we may, or may not, have experienced ourselves."

***Education - Expand education programs and outreach and reconnect
children with nature***

*Comments express a strong desire for the NPS to expand education
programs to include broader environmental education outreach to schools
and communities to reach children and adults.*

**Representative Quotes:**

"Keep up the good work! Always remember to educate the whole family-
young and old people need to know their history and the NPS is a great
way to get and stay informed."

"By bringing kids to parks, teaching them stewardship and respect for
nature, we will be doing much for changing the future - and preserving
the health of our national parks."

"I think that interpretation and education should be an increasing focus
in the national parks. Parks like the Everglades should be case studies
for the effectiveness education and conservation. I feel very strongly
that this is an essential direction that park service must undertake in
order to reach more Americans and ensure the relavancy of the parks to
the future generations who are increasingly urban and do not readily
access national parks."

"The park service should also continue to provide excellent outreach
programs to children and schools and to their surrounding communities as
a whole."

"Foster stewardship between the public and the National Park Service.
The Park Service should use more of its resources to teach children.
Create a mentoring program for children that would teach them about
environmental issues."

"Secondly, the Park Service must provide every opportunity to connect
its visitors to park resources through excellent interpretive programs
and experiences. Without environmental education, it is doubtful that
parks will be preserved unimpaired for future generations, because the
public will not grasp the challenge of managing parks for the dual
purpose of enjoyment and preservation."

"Educational materials that describe the geological and biological and
historical environment at parks should also be funded. But please only
fund scientifically based educational programs - do not fund programs or
brochures that do not represent the generally agreed upon scientific
environment...."

"Renew the Park Service\'s commitment to education, interpretation and
natural resource protection. Aggressively work with schools, boards of
education, and PTA groups to promote more student field trips in parks.
We must reconnect our youth with parks, wildlife, the outdoors, and
conservation values"

**"**The park system functions as an extension of the nation\'s
educational system offering \"Parks as classrooms\" in support of wide
ranging subject matter\....The NPS should continue to serve the people
of the US as the nation\'s greatest \"university\" \-- bringing nature,
history, ideas, etc. to the both the resident and visiting population."

     

"EDUCATION: Explore the idea of a shared education specialist position
between local school districts and NPS. To enhance a stronger bond
between NPS and schools. Schools could incorporate the park resources as
part of their yearly curriculum, provided it assists teachers in
teaching to the state and school curriculum standards. Wouldn\'t it be
far better for schools to use the park throughout the year as part of
their core curriculum, instead of a curriculum-based field trip that
they try to fit in once a year? This could be accomplished in many ways,
by student visitation to the park, online, distance learning, and/or by
having an NPS/school educator a few days a week at the school to work
with teachers and students?\
Better and more relevant, affordable training for staff, besides
distance learning.\
On-line educational materials for student\'s parents/teachers that
can\'t come to the park.\
Funding for school buses for filed trips. Every park educator that I
have spoken with complains of this issue. The schools do not have
funding for field trips to our sites.\
A more integrated connected education program system in our NPS
regions.\
Implement an NPS educators/teachers national conference."

"Need more education for children, not just western classroom education,
but traditional learning from extended families."

*Comments express a desire for the NPS to play a vital role in engaging
America\'s youth through activities that are relevant to them, using
active learning and new technology as part of an effort to reconnect
children with nature.*

**Representative Quotes:**

"One of the things which disturbs me is that today\'s youngsters are not
connecting with the natural world in the way we did when I was growing
up in the 1950\'s. Kids today spend too much time indoors, in organized
activities, and not out in the woods, fields and lakes experiencing the
natural world. They will never be able to fully understand and
appreciate the value these natural areas have to us if they have little
or no personal connection to them. Therefore, I believe that the NPS
must pursue a stategy, working with partners, of getting youngsters out
into the parks. This will require more visitor facilities/trips/camps,
etc. plus increaed educational opportunities for them. Only by
introducing the younger generations to the parks (and not just through
videos and textbooks) can we assure the long-term support the parks will
need to remain a vital part of our national psyche."

"The Park Service should provide outreach programs to the public that
are up to date, (i.e. hip) engaging and relevant to different groups.
Focus groups should be used to identify messages and styles that relate
to different audiences (i.e. media produced by kids for kids, etc.)"

"In addition, the National Park Service should work more closely and
aggressively with school districts, PTAs, colleges, boy and girl scout
groups, and others to foster greater connections between young people
and those NPS units near where they live. More creative and effective
methods should be developed and implemented to get more kids off their
computers or I-pods and out into the parks. If more young people do not
gain personal connections to parks and park resources, then the future
of the National Park System may be in jeopardy."

"Spark the engagement and imagination of \"children of all ages\" so
they are encouraged to question, re-imagine, ultimately feel a bond with
what they encounter. Use contemporary living artists as some of the
sparkers."

 

"Work with schools more closely to plant seeds of conservations ethics
in today\'s children and instill their interest in the NPS system."

***Environmental Leadership and Stewardship - Be a leader in
environmental issues and a premier example of stewardship***

*Comments assert the NPS should be a leader in environmental issues and
a premier example of stewardship of natural and cultural resources,
nationally and internationally. The NPS should also lead by example in
order to engage the public inspire others to environmental
responsibility and stewardship of natural and cultural resources.*

**Representative Quotes:**

"NPs should give us all a respect for nature. The natural beauty is
something worth protecting and I believe our National Parks should
encourage stewardship of the Earth in each and every single visitor."

 

"A visit to a National Park Service site should be a positive experience
that inspires national pride in a strong system. It should also help
citizens to realize the importance of preserving and protecting national
parks as well as conserving other natural and cultural resources. I\'d
like to think that a visit to a national park will inspire people to be
environmentally conscious citizens and good neighbors when they return
to their homes."

"Set the standard-lead in the whole environmentally friendly idea. if
any agency can it\'s the NPS."

 

"I think the NPS is doing a great job at being an access point for
Americans to our natural surroundings. In this context, the NPS has the
unique opportunity to heighten awareness of the public (especially in
the US) to how wonderful, and yet how delicate our environment and
ecosystems are."

"The National Parks should be a place to learn about our natural
heritage and our connection to our soil, air and water and the
biodiversity that sustains us. The Parks can be a place to learn about
the mistakes made and to find the remedies for these ills. The National
Parks should be leading the charge to amend climate change. National
Parks are not a partisan issue and neither is sustainability. A small
carbon footprint is frugal and a good investment of public and private
dollars. Waste not, want not."

"I expect parks to be classrooms for learners. They should be models for
sustainable living that lead the rest of the country. Sustainability &
environmental education should be at the heart of parks."

"The NPS should continue to demonstrate leadership and provide technical
assistance and support to state and local conservation, recreation, and
historic preservation efforts."

"These are \"National Parks.\" They are, unavoidably, the showcases of
the nation. They should represent the very best of this country, its
values, aspirations, and goals. I often wonder what foreign visitors
think when they visit Mt. Rainier and see the scuffed-up paths,
crumbling hiking trails, and broken down facilities. They must think
that this is a country that has lost respect for itself, when it expends
so little of its resources on stewardship of such a glorious
inheritance. And it provides a demoralizing message to American
citizens.\
\
Therefore, I think that the National Parks must be inspiring \"role
models.\" They should provide an example of committed stewardship and
constructive innovation. Park facilities should incorporate the latest
developments in environmentally-sound design; the menu selections in
restaurants and cafeterias should be guided by current research in
nutrition and environmental sustainability; maintenance and operations
of facilities should demonstrate the latest in conservation of
resources. The parks should be showcases of the American ability to be
forward-thinking, creative and innovative."

"The National Park Service should adopt a role of environmental
leadership. Although we have made progress in adopting a servicewide
environmental management system, we have not done everything in our
power to proactively lead in this area. I believe this is a role that
matters to the American public. And it would be a visionary role for the
NPS to take."

"Parks should be a recognized leader in educational programs; be leaders
and best researchers and scientists in habitat restoration and
preservation; they should represent the epitome of stewardship of the
natural resources including all native plants and animals"

***Facilities/Infrastructure - Support Future Development of major
facilities in parks***

*Comments support future development of major facilities in parks, such
as hotels, restaurants, and lodges.*

**Representative Quotes:**

"While it may not be \"sexy\" as a new project I sincerely feel it is
critical to fund park staffing, resource management science and project
action, and backlogged and then continuing cyclic maintenance in all
park areas. Unless resources and infrastructure are maintained,
especially historic and natural resources, the very reasons park areas
were established as important to America disappear."

***Facilities/Infrastructure - Support future development of moderate
facilities in parks (does not include trails)***

*Comments support development of moderate facilities in parks, such as
campgrounds, bathrooms, picnic areas, and showers.*

**Representative Quotes:**

"I hope National Parks include facilities for accessing San Francisco
Bay and tributary waters for swimmers, kayakers, rowers, and sailboats
so that citizens have opportunites to enjoy the natural water
environment. Such facilities would include parking, restrooms, outdoor
showers to wash away sand and mud, and legal and safe access for hand
launched craft (kayaks, rowboats, surfboards) into the waters in a
number of locations forming a \"water trail\". In the same manner, I
hope National Parks includes similar facilites for access to land
trails."

***Facilities/Infrastructure - Keep Parks at a Minimal Development Level
or No new development***

*Comments want parks kept to a minimal level of development or express a
desire for no additional development in parks.*

**Representative Quotes:**

"I would like to experience the national parks in a condition that is as
close as possible to when the park was orignially founded (so I can have
the experience that was originally intended). I understand the need for
infrastructure to support large quantities of visitors, but it should be
kept as low-key as possible in order to help conserve the original
beauty."

     

"It is important to provide interpretive centers and lodges to stimulate
interest in tourism and to educate the public. However, this should not
give way to overdevelopment for resort or housing within the park
system. These activities should remain outside park boundries."

***Facilities/Infrastructure - Comments on maintenance and management of
existing facility infrastructure***

*Comments express concern about the condition of facilities, such as
roads, campgrounds, or bathrooms, and support funding to maintain or
improve infrastructure.*

**Representative Quotes:**

"I would like the campgrounds to be open for as long a season as
possible, given weather and storms."

 

"I hope that there are clean, well maintained facilities, trails,
campgrounds, and exhibits that enhance the visitor experience and
inspire national pride in a strong system."

"I\'d like to see money used to repair and restore what currently needs
maintenance in our parks not anything new built when we can\'t take care
of what we have now."

"The National Parks are threatened as never before. Park operations and
maintenance of facilities and infrastructure is falling behind. The
Centennial Initiative should seek to preserve and enhance the National
Parks in a way that they can be enjoyed into the distant future."

***Fees - Support keeping fees reasonable; continuing existing fee
programs***

*Comments support the continuation of fee programs but express a strong
desire for fees to remain reasonable.*

**Representative Quotes:**

"I expect to have future generations pay a reasonable entry fee for
national parks, one that is affordable given that this is a national
treasure that has been paid for over my lifetime and my parents lifetime
in taxes. I expect to be able to get in at a discount because I am a
senior American for the same reason-I\'ve paid, now give me a break, I
don\'t have that much time left. I expect the NPS to be realistic in its
budgeting including wages and salaries. Especially wages and salaries."

"I would also hope that camping fees can be kept low enough so that the
general public can afford to go camping at the great national parks more
than once or twice. If we price people out of the parks, then people
will not care about them."

"I want every American, regardless of income, to be welcomed, and have
the opportunity to take part, and not be priced out of lands and
monuments they support with their taxes every year."

***Fees - Oppose fees for any park unit***

*Comments oppose any fees for parks.*

**Representative Quotes:**

"Abolish entrance fees, but keep usage fees, i.e., cabins, campgrounds"

 

"Additionally I hope that entrance fees will become a thing of the
past."

 

"Make sure that NPS areas are accessible to all visitors by eliminating
entrance fees. Current fee structures have the potential to exclude
entire demographics from experiencing the parks. Ensure that the NPS is
truly a national system that is funded by taxpayers. And make sure that
every tax dollar is used wisely."

"SUSPEND ENTRANCE FEES FOR 2016 - DONATION GOES TO PARK INSTEAD OF FEES"

***Funding - Increase funding to parks and park programs***

*Comments support increasing funding to parks to support adequate
staffing, maintenance and general park operations. Comments also support
sustainable funding of park operations and programs to ensure the
mission of the NPS can be achieved.*

**Representative Quotes:**

"I hope that experiences visitors have will not be impeded by budget
shortfalls and lack of staff and facilities to enhance their
experience."

"Make sure that the National Park Service has full funding for what they
need to have done and make sure that that funding continues into the
future"

 

"I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUBMIT THIS SURVEY. FOR MANY YEARS MY
HUSBAND AND I HAVE ENJOYED THE U.S. PARK SYSTEM. WE HAVE GOLDEN
PASSPORTS AND HAVE BEEN IN ALMOST EVERY STATE WHERE WE ALWAYS VISIT THE
PARKS. WE PARTICULARLY ENJOY THE RANGER PROGRAMS AND SINCERELY HOPE THAT
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE TO FUND THIS EXCELLENT SYSTEM."

"Our National Parks are our national treasures - they deserve to be
treated as such. Every National Parks should have sufficient funding to
protect, manage, and interpret these special places."

"Create reliable sources of sustainable public funding to support annual
park operations and keep up with necessary maintenance of facilities and
infrastructure. Congress should plug a few unfair corporate tax
loopholes and/or terminate a few unwarranted military defense contracts
to provide sufficient funds for NPS operations and maintenance."

"I believe that it is most important that we continue support of our
parks financially. Today, our parks do not receive the funding to keep
functioning like they did in the past. More and more people visit the
parks every year. Yet Congress and the President choose to continue the
poor support of these treasured resources. Funding has even been cut
back further. Because of this, maintanence of parks is lacking,
facilities are aging and Park Rangers are losing their jobs. We need to
continue to lobby for increased funding for the parks."

"My hopes for the National Parks in 2016 would be that continued full
federal funding, so lacking in recent years, would have been restored
and that our parks would reflect the level of maintenance and
improvement that their status as national treasures warrants. The
current, deteriorated condition of our park infrastructure and seriously
inadequate staffing is a disgrace to the nation! Federal funding should
fully fund maintenance and staff costs with a margin for improvement."

"Establish and fund a National Park Foundation funded by public and
private money adminitered by an independent board of directors (chaired,
perhaps by the chairman of the Federal Reserve) with the intent of
stabilizing the funding of the national park system and insulate it from
politics and economic cycles to the maximum extent."

***Funding - Concerns about philanthropic dollars replacing federal
funding***

*Comments express concern over the potential for philanthropic dollars
to replace federal funding and feel that philanthropic funding should be
used for specific enhancements but not as a substitute for public
funding of staffing and base operations.*

**Representative Quotes:**

"Embrace philanthropy, and don\'t just be satisfied with what we
currently have."

"Do not rely on donor funding to replace the capital improvement
program. While some donor programs are very appropriate and can elicit
public support for a particular project, such as the Ellis Island
restoration project, it is not appropriate to put the parks in the
position of soliciting donations from the private sector."

"This Presidential initiative is exciting because the National Park
system desperately needs the attention only a substantial infusion of
money can give. However, I have two major reservations. First, Congress
and the Executive must commit to maintain the additional \$100 million
per year, and here the key word is additional. Too often, these programs
get started and then the money is lost in other people\'s priorities.
This must not happen. Second, \"private philanthropy\" must be
philanthropy with no strings attached. There must be no favors done for
money donated, e.g., special access for certain people or groups."

"The National Parks should be fully funded by the federal government (we
the people) and not become a philanthopic supported political football."

"Friends groups and other philanthropic efforts should be focused on
enhancements, not on supplementing inadequate federal maintenance and
staff funding."

"How can we raise the required amount of money when our park partners
have not had a great track record? Our capacity to implement the
projects will be limited unless 1) the cooperative agreement issue is
resolved, e.g. the new requirement for competing all cooperative
agreements; and 2) the NPS creates and implements a plan to keep the
current rules from nullifying partnerships. Now, it seems that the
thrust for NPS to bring in private funds and work through partnerships
is countered by the growing difficulty, through new, more complex rules,
for working with partners."

***Interpretation - Comments on quality or levels of interpretation
services and programs***

*The public provided general comments on interpretive programming,
including the level and quality of service and ideas for new programs.
Comments also express value in interpretive programs telling the stories
of American heritage and a desire for more interpretive programs.*

**Representative Quotes:**

"The Park Service should make history come alive through living history
presentations and reenactments. The Park Service should do more with the
natural environment; have programs where students would go to an
environmental site with a biologist. Create a natural display of what
life was like in St Louis in the 1700\'s-21st century on the Arch
grounds."

"America\'s parks represent a large percentage of the major events and
themes of America\'s story. Celebrating the centennial of our nation\'s
parks should be about celebrating the story of the nation itself - this
is the National Park system at its most relevant."

 

"I also would hope that the interactive and interpretive programs held
at many parks continue to expand and further educate the next
generations about the importance of conservation and usage of natural
resurces."

***Interconnectedness of Parks - Creating park networks and linking
parks***

*Comments express hope for an interconnected national park system, with
parks link parks through physical corridors as well as information.*

**Representative Quotes:**

"I would like to see linkage among the various historic sites and parks
throughout the region, geographically as well as thematically."

"An interconnected national park system, with parks connected by
corridors for scenic and resource protection, wildlife movement, and
recreation. Many corridors could follow river drainages, thus providing
for water protection. The corridors would be built on the existing and
future national parks, and NPSs existing and emerging national trails,
such as the new Capt. John Smith Chesapeake National Trail. Federal
support should be given to local and state trails and corridors of
national quality and importance. For example, the San Francisco Bay
Trail."

     

"Create 100 topical travel itineraries (Colonial America, butterflies,
cliff dwellings, etc) that link related parks and other places."

***Interconnectedness of Parks - Integrate management and coordinate
with other federal or state agencies***

*Comments express a desire for more interagency coordination with other
federal or state agencies, most notably the U.S. Forest Service.*

**Representative Quotes:**

"the National Park Service needs to find ways to partner with the Forest
Service for more seamless efforts at habitat preservation, public
accessibility to the backcountry, and other issues affecting public
lands - hikers don\'t usually know when they are on Forest Service land
and when they are on Park land; it\'s all beautiful wild forest, and
they don\'t want inconsistent practices (utilization vs. preservation)
to spoil their personal experience."

"In several parts of the country, like the Redwoods region in northern
California and the canyonlands of southern Utah, national parks are in
close proximity to state parks and lands protected by other agencies,
like the BLM. In those places, it would be useful for the National Park
Service to provide integrated information and interpretive materials to
visitors."

***Local Communities - Engage and inform local and/or gateway
communities***

*Comments express a desire for parks to work with gateway communities
and engage local communities more for mutual benefits.*

**Representative Quotes:**

"I\'d like to see increased outreach to visiting tourists and residents
that live near park sites. In particular I\'d like to target local
residents whose actions and votes have a profound effect on the health
of a park AND America\'s future decision makers - children."

**"**Residential Educational programs for youth and adults that
highlight ecological consciousness, national history, and the value of
diversity"

"National Parks should become more community oriented, realizing the
relationship with the surrounding area and people as well as their role
in the entire world. Park officials should take roles in volunteer and
service organizations and present programs to local groups, schools,
etc."

"Stronger connections to communities: civic engagement projects, and
community based projects (based on the park stories) that immerse the
communities in the park, ex. Community gardening, resource protections,
data collection, there are a million ideas and already created
programs."

"Having lived inAustralia, I was able to observe how the Park Service
recruited and trained native Aborigines to take over the management of
Ayer\'s Rock. We should aim to do the same by recruiting more native
peoples into careers in natural resources from underserved populations
throughout the nation by providing educational initiatives necessary to
recruit locals into natural and cultural resource jobs."

"I think it is critcal the Park Service work hand in hand with our
school systems in educating the children about the national treasurers
that are in our back yards. For example, I live in Kemmerer, Wyoming,
where Fossil Butte national Monument is just a few minutes drive from
town. Many of our local residents have never visited the monument. We
need to instill enthusiasm and exitement from a very young age and
continue to nourish this as they grow older, and hopefully, this will
spread to others. The communities near these parks also need to become
proactive in supporting and educating youth, community members and
travellers about the areas they are encountering. In Kemmerer, we are
implementing projects in our downtown development to do this. For
instance, one of our projects that is currently being worked on is to
embed bronze fossil fish plaques in the sidewalks throughout the
downtown area. We are also building an event center which will display
many of these fabulous fossil in it."

***Law Enforcement - Support enforcement of park rules and
regulations***

*Comments express concern about violations and support enforcement of
park rules and regulations.*

**Representative Quotes:**

"Create a program to help citizens realize that they are the stewards to
the environments in the Parks. When Rangers contact people they should
tell you why what you are doing is wrong and use it as a learning period
and not just give you a citation"

"Better enforcement of parks\' safety rules to protect the people
visiting and the environment and wildlife."

 

"Make signage more positive to avoid being a \"no-no\" park"

 

"More rangers in the park, improve law enforcement presence "

 

"Too much law enforcement, i.e. guns and weapons, are intimidating to
many visitors and not necessarily a favorable park experience."

***Mission and Marketing - Focus on the purpose and mission of the NPS;
citing the 1916 Organic Act***

*Comments express value related to the uniqueness and general importance
of the NPS mission and sites in the national park system. Comments also
express hope for the continued focus on the purpose and mission of the
NPS, and many cite language from the 1916 Organic Act.*

**Representative Quotes:**

"I hope that National Parks remain landscapes and heritage that are
preserved for future generations. By this I mean that I hope the funding
and legislative support is made available to successfully preserve and
protect resources found in our National Parks, Monuments and
Recreational Areas. That means not focusing on only the human experience
of a visit to the parks, but also ensuring that the plants, animals,
water bodies, etc. remain healthy, self-sustaining and viable. We must
also not forget that other federal lands managed by other agencies (eg,
Forest Service and BLM)far exceed the acreage of National Parks and
allow for a wide variety of recreational opportunities not found in
parks. By visiting a National Park, people have sought out experiences
specific to the management practices of the National Park Service."

"NPS should adhere strictly to the 1916 Organic Act to protect natural
and cultural resource unimpeded for future generations. It should not be
driven by commercial, political, or religious interests. My expectation
is that park professionals will guide the future of the National Parks
and that they will remain vigilant against inappropriate uses and
directions of our parks. My expectation is that retired NPS employees
and the general public will play a key role in supporting these
efforts."

"The second topic I want to mention is the need to make the national
parks more relevant to more of the people. We should seek more and
better ways to enable more of the people to see and understand and find
how the parks are relevant. This should mean \"interpretation\" for
those who do come to the parks. And it should mean \"marketing\" in
regard to those who don\'t come or wo don\'t know or understand anything
about the parks. The 1916 law establishing NPS says tha the Service
shall \"promote\...the use\" of the parks. In these times, that might be
said to be \"marketing.\" Marketing in all the best sense of the word,
not just \"selling.\" In conclusion, I suggest that alot of serious
discussion and consideration should be given to helping the people
discover the relevance of the parks."

***Mission and Marketing - Use marketing or branding to make sure the
NPS is recognized***

*Comments express a desire to make sure the NPS and its mission is
recognized, nationally and internationally, through techniques including
marketing or branding.*

**Representative Quotes:**

"National Parks should play a far more important role for America. They
are lliterally our \"crown jewels\" and preserving and enjoying them
should be much higher on our list of national priorities. They need to
be more in the public consciousness, so NPS needs a bigger budget to
spread the word about our national parks, with a more comprehensive
website (compare to the nasa.gov website) and media (videos, podcasts,
books, etc.)"

"National Park Service is not just a collection of lands, lakes and
streams; it is a collection of the greatest monuments from all past
heritages. Create a commemorative stamp of parks, 1 sheet similar to the
wildlife stamps, of the 10 most spectacular national parks and
monuments."

"Everything in the system should be called a \"national park\"."

 

"National Parks play in important tool in both domestic and
international tourism. They represent what is \'right\' with the US, or
at least they should. They should help promote the US, the history of
our country, its cultural and natural resources. But at the same time,
it shouldn\'t be presented in a commericialized environment that
degrades all of the above."

"While preserving and protecting the resources, the encouragement of
visitation of both national and international visitors is essential to
raising the public support of the parks."

"One of the areas that NPS doesn\'t address is marketing. Yes, you have
a web site, but you don\'t have a Communication Plan that describes your
target audiences, the appropriate media channel(s) for each audience, or
the message(s) to each audience. NPS leaves marketing and communication
up to each park superintendent, with little guidance on dealing with the
media (only in crisis situations), and no information on marketing their
park to the general public. Thinking that the nps.gov web site is all
they need is archaic considering the millions of Americans living in
underserved communities. The parks simply aren\'t relevant to most
Americans and they don\'t understand why the parks are important or even
that they exist.\
\
Why do I believe marketing and communication is such a big deal?\
\
The general public has little to no knowledge of the national park
system as a whole (i.e., number of parks (nearly 400), why the parks
were established, what do they mean in the context of my daily life or
historically in the United States, why they should be preserved for the
future, what the current operational costs are to sustain the parks, the
maintenance backlog, the current budget and projected future shortfalls,
etc."

"Many agencies of the Federal Government are permitted to advertize, to
create public awareness and to direct concepts via various channels to
universal audiences across the country. We are constrained within the
National Park, from advertizing, using signage, and many other methods
of attracting visitors to the park as well as guiding their experience
within the Park. Please provide a way in which we can provide more
opportunities for the public to become aware of our presence and our
programs"

"I know it is difficult to reach out to people and capture their minds
and hearts in such a fast moving society, and the NPS has always been
underfunded in its PR programs, more of an agency of responding to
issues than being able to reach out. It takes funding and staffing, or
paying a contractor to develop a good program. But it is important so
people gain from the learning, doing, and emotional gifts parks can
give, and thereby know enough to support them as the years pass."

***Mission and Marketing - Focus marketing on lesser-known units to
increase visitation***

*Comments express a future need to focus marketing efforts on
lesser-known parks in the system to increase visitation.*

**Representative Quotes:**

"International visitors (except at the well known parks) would be hard
pressed to find some of our local park properties. We need visitor
centers and better information distribution mechanisms to help direct
visitors to our park resources."

"The \"Crown Jewels\" will always be the must see destination for first
time visitors and foriegn travelers. But most of the people using the
parks are probably repeat visitors who are primarily looking for
convenient outdoor recreation that does not involve wilderness camping.\
\
We need to open smaller parks near the \"Crown Jewels\" and encourage
repeat visitors, who have already seen the main park, to consider using
the \"releaver\" parks and reducing congestion at the major attractions"

***New Parks and/or Boundary Expansion - Comments propose adding new
parks or expanding boundaries of existing parks***

*Comments express hope and expectations that the park system will
continue to flourish and grow in the future. Some comments also propose
adding new units to the national park system as well as expansion of
existing park boundaries, including acquisition of inholdings.*

**Representative Quotes:**

"I would like to see the park service expand on the amount of protected
lands in its care."

"The most important priority should be funding for the acquisition and
protection of inholdings (privately owned land) within our national
parks. As the executive director of the National Park Trust, I along
with our board of trustees hope that we can finish our dream of
completing our national system of parks, acquiring all of the remaining
land within the national parks (6 million acres) and as a secondary goal
protecting the valuable viewsheds adjacent to the parks."

"My hopes and expectations for national parks in 2016 and beyond is that
America\'s preserved parklands will grow in size and the number of
national parks will increase. We must preserve as much green area as
possible for the future hope of having exceptionally preserved and
beautiful lands in this nation. As America grows, the monied interests
of corporate America have proven repeatedly that they are not capable of
preserving the integrity of this land\'s natural beauty. To stave off
strip mall fever and overwhelmingly stale suburban sprawl as it swallows
America whole, it is my hope that our government will continue expanding
its preserved territories: parks, forests, and other areas."

"Most importantly, we need to continue to support the lack of
development around our parks. A housing development and a mine affect
the health of our parks as much as if they were located INSIDE of the
park. We cannot allow the mass selling off of our National Forests that
surround our Parks. We must remember that the Habitats wildlife live in
do not end at our parks boundaries. The more that developments encrouch
into our parks the less wildlife we will see."

"The park system continues to flourish and grow in a way that is both
responsible and responsive to changing environmental needs and
historical perspectives."

"I think that areas in the United States should finally be able to apply
for to be designated a World Cultural Heritage Site (today, such an
application requires the permission of every single property owner in an
area, rendering the process impossible and practically only allowing
solely government-owned areas like national parks to apply). The US has
so much to offer and the world should know about it."

\"Centennial Initiative should be about preserving land in perpetuity.
It is important to celebrate 100 years of the National Park Service but
it is even more critical to have land saved to celebrate the 200th
anniversary as well.\"

"Looking at the national park unit map, there are huge swaths of the
country without signicant parks protecting the regional national
heritage. Here in Illinois, there needs to be a large national park to
showcase \"the prairie state\" for it\'s unique tallgrass prairie and
even more rare oak savannas. For citizens here in Chicago, we have to
travel long distances to find large swaths of protected nature to
replenish our spirits. The nearest park, Indiana Dunes National
Lakeshore, is a fantasticly rich mix of ecosystems, but it\'s simply not
large enough. It ranks 4th in the entire national park system for
biodiversity, but only protects 15,000+ acreas. It needs to be at least
2-3 times as large to give nature lovers the expansive wilderness to
lose themselves within."

***New Parks and/or Boundary Expansion - Comments oppose any expansion
of national parks or new parks to the national park system***

*Comments oppose any new units being added to the national park system
and do not want the system to be diluted.*

**Representative Quotes:**

"First, the Park Service cannot dilute its mandate by being a funding
source for every Congressman\'s pet project. Each month the NPS receives
proposals for new units that can only be classified as pork barrel. Each
new proposed park, monument, recreation area, lakeshore, and seashore
that does not fully meet the feasibility criteria established in the NPS
Management Policies must be rejected outright. The Park Service must
honor the high bar set for admission to prevent the dilution of its
mission, something that will inevitably happen where there are too many
units and not enough dollars to support those units."

***Natural Resource Management - Comments regarding natural resource
management issues (does not include "wilderness")***

*Comments express hope that the NPS will continue a strong commitment
toward natural resource management in the future. Some comments express
concern about exotic species. Comments also support wildlife management
and restoration of native and/or extirpated species to parks. Comments
also support the NPS taking an active role by developing a comprehensive
strategy to address climate change.*

**Representative Quotes:**

"Over the next ten years, protection of buffalo, wolves, and all other
wildlife should be given highest priority for national parks. This
includes protecting them even if they range beyond the boundaries of the
parks, especially if that range is historically part of their natural
habitat."

"My hope is that the National Park Service will develop a comprehensive
bottom to top Climate Change Strategy and Communication Plan to share
the potential impacts and mitigation measures we will be embarking on in
the coming decades"

"Maintain a strong commitment to the conservation mandate of our parks,
including fully protecting the natural diversity and abundance of all
native species, such as predators. Where species are extirpated within
their historic range in parks, they should be actively reintroduced and
restored to healthy, self-sustaining levels."

"It provides places for scientists to make discoveries, for wildlife and
plants to flourish, and for people to experience clean air, scenic
vistas, unspoiled nature and genuine history."

***Other - Miscellaneous comments***

**Representative Quotes:**

"I think that the National Parks should dedicate themselves and their
services to the interests of Americans first. Any service provided to
foreign visitors should be available as a secondary interest to those
American citizens who are the actual owners of the park."

     

"Please consider having areas where LEASHED pets can be taken, with
hefty fines for violations or not removing animal waste. Until we can
take our dog to areas other than the parking lot, we\'ll have to go
elsewhere."

"Trails and \"green\" buildings that conform to the contours of the
natural landscapes of the parks and incorporate natural and cultural
histories"

"Pigeon forge and Gatlinburg, Tennessee, are prime examples of what can
denigrate our park system \-- both could have easily been developed a
few miles further from the GSMNP without sacrificing the economic
benefits, and using these areas instead for less dense and more
park-related sorts of development. We should avoid the mistakes of
Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg in the future by better planning. My guess
is that the affected political areas (states and counties) would agree
that such planning would benefit them in the long run."

***Partnerships - Support continuation and expansion of collaborative
partnerships***

*Comments express support of the NPS continuing to expand collaborative
partnerships to achieve a range of goals, including but not limited to
interpretation, education, and research.*

**Representative Quotes:**

"Partnerships with other organizations will also expand the reach of the
National Parks in people\'s lives by taking the message of the parks and
reaching new audiences. I would challenge individual parks to identify
those organizations that support their work, and continue to celebrate
and support those partnerships."

"They should also coordinate and support the efforts of local
organizations and educational institutes throughout a region to take
advantage of local knowledge, build capacity and park support and
provide the educational initiatives necessary to recruit locals into
natural and cultural resource jobs."

***Park-specific Comments - All comments related to a specific park***

*All comments related to specific parks have been captured in this
category to be provided to park and resource managers.*

**Representative Quotes:**

"I would like the National Park Service perform a complete, historically
correct restoration of D&RGW Engine 278 located at the Curecanti
National Recreation Area. Recent photographs show it deteriorating
rapidly."

"Reducing traffic congestion in Yosemite Valley."

***Recreation and Experiences - Support a wide variety of recreation and
expand recreation opportunities***

*Comments express support for a wide variety of recreational uses in
parks, and would like recreation opportunities such as mountain-biking,
geo-caching, and orienteering allowed and/or expanded.*

**Representative Quotes:**

"I would urge you to consider mountain biking as valid an outdoor
activity as hiking and horseback riding, both of which are provided for
on NPS lands. This does not mean that all trails in a National Park
should be open for mtn biking, but I would urge NPS to remove the
historical blanket ban on mountain biking, and look for appropriate
trails, dirt roads and parks where sensible mountain biking could be
permitted."

"I would love to see increased mountain biking opportunities in the
parks. Mountain biking is a healthy outdoor activity that would be an
ideal way to appreciate the beauty of our national parks. Such an
initiative could increase the numbers of visitors to the parks while
creating no greater environmental impact than currently allowed
activities like hiking and equestrian use."

"I know that geocaching has been a controversial issue in the national
parks. Physical geocaches can pollute the environment and might lead
visitors to go off the trail \-- leading to resource damage. However, I
think that kids today (and some grownups like myself) might be more
likely to visit national parks if they allowed virtual geocaches. These
use the same concept at physical geocaches (using a GPS to do basic
orienteering and find a specific location) but instead of leading to a
physical cache they lead to a monument, the site of an important battle,
or a geological feature. I think that virtual geocaching could be a
great way to attract young people to parks (I know it has gotten me to
visit many state and local parks that I would not have otherwise
visited). Virtually geocaching could be organized into interpretive
themes involving nature, cultural themes, or even outdoor skills themes
(such as Leave No Trace and orienteering). With a small set of seed
money from the signature projects funding, parks could procure GPS units
to use during \"virtual geocaching\" interpretive programs. I know that
our mission is to preserve natural and cultural resources while also
allowing recreational access to these resources. I think virtual
geocaching, if done properly, could meet both of these missions and
attract the next generation of visitors to national parks."

"The gist of my commentary is that I believe the NPS should make every
effort to include recreational opportunities in the parks relevant to
the park\'s location. In urban areas, including recreation with dogs is
appropriate, since many city dwellers have families that include dogs."

***Recreation and Experiences - Oppose some forms of recreation or want
limits on recreation***

*Comments express support for traditional and/or appropriate recreation
in parks, such as camping, hiking, backpacking to continue. Comments
also express hope that both frontcountry and backcountry experiences
will be available and remain distinct from one another.*

**Representative Quotes:**

"A program of banning all snowmobiles must be implemented to stop the
impacts on wildlife, disturbance of other humans in the form of noise,
exhaust, and health issues. All other mechanized or motorized vehicles
must be relegated to paved surfaces only."

"I hope that they will remain very much as they are now. I know that the
Service comes under great pressure to \"improve access\" to parks and to
add facilities for visitors.but hope that you will be able to resist
these pressures. More than that I hope that you will no longer allow
uses of parks which destroy the \"park experience \" for the majority of
users, An extreme example which I have experienced is aircraft flying
over, and even within the walls, of the Grand Canyon. Most users expect
the Canyon, and other parks to be free from intrusive man made noises.
But, this intrusion is allowed for the profit of the operators and the
pleasure of those few people who want, and can afford , to see the
canyon without effort A national park is no place for powered vehicles
-OK maybe electric golf carts if the terrain is suitable. Even trail
bikes can be destructive of unpaved surfaces and, if carelessly
operated, annoying, and even dangerous to other trail users"

"Eliminate Incompatible Uses: We urge a re-examination of policies that
allow incompatible uses in national parks, uses inconsistent with
conservation, such as jet skis and snowmobiles"

"I, along with many other equestrians enjoy the parks by horseback. It
seems that all can get along pretty well\...the hikers, the mountain
bike riders & the horseback riders. The only main concern I have are the
ATV\'s. There are widened and deepened trails left by the riders. They
are noisy and pollute. The trails are getting overly used where others
are not enjoying them anymore."

***Recreation and Experiences - Support for traditional and/or
appropriate recreation; distinct frontcountry and backcountry recreation
experiences***

*Support for traditional and/or appropriate recreation in parks
(camping, hiking, backpacking, horseback/equestrian/stock use);
frontcountry and backcountry recreation experiences are different and/or
should remain distinct*

**Representative Quotes:**

"The Parks should be left as wild as possible. Only hiking, camping,
climbing, skiing, etc should be allowed within the parks. Internal
combustion vehicles should be limited to the \'entrance\' areas in the
parks."

"If easy access to the wild areas is provided, then the very nature of
these areas will be forever lost. As I age, I accept that I can no
longer backpack, hike, or ski the distances that I used to, but I would
want those experiences available for the generations to come. For
example there is no reason to allow snowmobiles in Yellowstone National
Park. If visitors are not willing to exert themselves, they should be
happy with the experience offered by the visitor centers, paved trails,
and numbered turn outs."

"Horses and pack stock are a great way to see the back country and
natural vistas that a lot of people are unable to on foot. Outfitters
could provide a great service to alowe people with lesser physical
abilities to enjoy the back country. It\'s important that people
understand that with out these animals in the early days much of the
work to develope and maintain the parks would have never happened.
History sould be preserved by keeping trails open to riding and pack
stock with areas for them at trail heads."

"High use areas - driving loop, car camping, cabins, etc - which is what
most visitors enjoy, must be contained to small areas in each park. The
majority of the park should be reserved for low impact use - namely, for
hiking and backpacking. These low impact areas will be the ecological
centers of the parks. Some people will clamor for motorized access to
these areas - this must not be allowed. Automobiles and off-road
vehicles cause erosion, disrupt wildlife, and ruin the experience for
other visitors because of the noise they create."

***Recreation and Experiences - Solitude, tranquility, refuge, and
solace from modern life***

*Comments express the important role of parks in providing opportunities
for visitors to experience solitude, tranquility, solace, and a place
for refuge from modern life.*

**Representative Quotes:**

"National parks should be a place of wonder, a break from the frenetic
pace, noise, and pollution that affects our everyday lives. National
parks should provide a place to exercise, invigorate, and even heal our
bodies and minds."

"National parks are vital to our need to find relief from the stresses
on modern life. National parks are where people can go to recharge and
reconnect with nature."

"The idea of parks as a vital resource for physical and mental
regeneration in a busy, crowded world, as a place where people of all
ages, all social classes, all ethnicities can come together to enjoy the
beauty and magnificence of the natural world, and as a common place in
which genuine community is formed ought to be the touchstone of all
centennial activities."

***Recreation and Experiences - Important places to connect with nature
and experience natural sounds and scenery***

*Comments express the important role parks play in providing experiences
to connect with nature, including opportunities to experience natural
sounds and scenery, night sky, view wildlife, and use all their senses
to connect with their surroundings.*

**Representative Quotes:**

"It is my hope to have people of future generations be able to have an
experience of nature and wilderness in our national parks of the same
richness and quality as I have had during my life. The national parks
should be places we can all go to breathe clean air, see beautiful
scenery, experience quiet and solitude, and get in touch with the
miracle and mystery of our planet and the beauty of our country."

"The parks are undeniably special places with unique abilities to
inspire and refresh the human spirit, and they should be protected as
such. They provide rare opportunities for people to enjoy beautiful
environments and the peace and tranquility that can only be found in
these vast natural landscapes. The parks cannot be all things to all
visitors. They can\'t provide peace, quiet and natural beauty at the
same time as accommodating hordes of snowmobilers, ATVs, and
helicopters. (The idea is as unrealistic as trying to divide a
restaurant space into smoking and non-smoking; the activities of one
group will unavoidably impinge upon the other.) I think this role of
allowing people to experience tranquility and a landscape that is free
of modern noise and distraction should be emphasized. Many places can
offer noise and bustle, very few can offer tranquility. The park service
should protect and promote the unique qualities provided by the unspoilt
environments of the national parks: the grandeur and beauty of the
landscpaes; the restorative and inspiring effects of vast areas of
natural beauty."

"People should view the park in the light of a number of different
values: spiritual, aesthetic, educational, research, inspiration,
challenge, and solitude. They should come away from the parks with an
increased knowledge about the natural world, appreciation for its
beauty, and a sense of responsibility for not only their parks
environmental health, but also for the natural elements to be found in
their own communities, wherever they live."

"The hundred million Americans, plus millions of other visitors from
around the world, who hike, backpack, and enjoy other human-powered
recreation activities turn to our national parks for their magnificent
vistas, clean air and water, wild plants and animals, and natural quiet.
Countless others in this country and around the world who may never even
visit a national park derive tremendous gratification and intrinsic
value from the existence and protection of our National Park System and
its irreplaceable natural and cultural resources.\
\
Many park visitors connect with nature in national parks through trails,
resulting in a profound sense of belonging, peace, and well-being. Our
parks and other NPS resources, such as the national scenic and historic
trails, help reconnect Americans to our natural and cultural heritage
and landscape, nurture our deeply-help American values of conservation
and stewardship of our lands and waters, and help serve as a unifying
factor in an incredibly diverse nation."

***Recreation and Experiences - Family-oriented experiences and
activities***

*Comments express the value of parks as important places for
family-oriented experiences, such as camping, picnicking, and others.*

**Representative Quotes:**

"I think national parks should be a place where families can gather,
have fun and learn. People can help out by uptaining pristine
cleanliness, and teaching others about how they can help."

"I hope that people find precious family time and relaxation in the
parks, and that because of this, affection for the National Parks among
all classes of the American people continues to grow."

***Recreation and Experiences - Parks as sources of inspiration***

*Comments express the importance of parks and park experiences as
sources of inspiration and hope that visitors continue to be moved by
their experiences in both natural and cultural sites.*

**Representative Quotes:**

"I believe that our parks are an excellent opportunity for everyone,
regardless of national origin, to recognize the beauty around us and
learn about the complex and fragile balances needed to sustain such
systems. I believe the role of national parks is to provide the
opportunity for exposure to and understanding of those park systems with
an aim towards instilling compassion for all life there."

"People of all ages and backgrounds should go to parks to find
inspiration, not only in the natural and cultural stories of the park
itself but in the buildings and grounds that must be intentionally
designed to be teachable spaces."

"As they have for generations, I hope our national parks will continue
to serve as a source of positive inspiration for the American people.
For me, our national parks are one source of pride in my country. It is
important to me that, even before 1916, Americans had the forethought
and dedication to set aside remarkable lands and sites for the benefit
of future generations. I am proud that the service has stayed committed
to this idea and gone on to share it with other nations. I think
America\'s collective commitment to its national park system shows us at
our best."

"In 1916, the legacy of public estate \"for the people\" flourished with
President Woodrow Wilson\'s signing of the Act creating the National
Park Service. That\'s its role, natural conservation for the people, and
that\'s exactly how it should remain. Yellowstone, America\'s first
national park, has stood as a role model for other national parks as
well as land preservation opportunities in other parts of the planet.
People from around the world come to America to see how vast tracts of
public estate can be reserved for the enjoyment of the people. Americans
count on national parks to be wild, free of development and a place to
let their spirits soar."

"I hope future generations will feel the inspiration and pride I have
felt in our parks, that they will better understand and appreciate our
country\'s history, that they will see and be awestruck by an unspoiled
landscape, that parks will help them develop values that will enable
them take an active part in conservation, preservation, and stewardship,
NOT JUST of America\'s treasures but those of the whole world."

***Plans, Research and Science - Comments on scientific research and
planning in parks***

*Comments address parks being both an important source and resource for
scientific research such as global warming research. Comments also
support continued research and/or planning efforts on a variety of
issues such as species restoration, global warming, etc.*

**Representative Quotes:**

"Science is especially important - we can\'t make decisions without it.
The science programs in the parks must be maintained, promoted, and
adequately funded; scientists must be allowed to do their work without
political interference; endangered, threatened, and species at risk must
be properly managed."

"Ensure parks have up-to-date research and adequate information to make
informed park management decisions, and remove inappropriate political
interference from management decisions."

***Safety - Comments about safety in parks***

*Comments express concern about safety in parks and want parks to be
safe environments.*

**Representative Quotes:**

"I hope they are safe, and that I don\'t have to fear for my safety from
drug-growers or other felons while I\'m hiking in the wild areas."

"Repair and otherwise restore existing parts of parks so that all
visitors - especially children are safe. Hire enough staff so that
safety is improved. I have heard that some areas are unsafe."

***Sustainability - Serve as a leader in sustainability by example***

*Comments express hope and expectation that the NPS be a leader in
sustainability (such as green design) and should lead by example,
highlighting existing projects that emphasize sustainability.*

**Representative Quotes:**

"I would hope to see the facilities, campgrounds, and concessions
updated to incoporate \"green\" construction and conservation of our
natural resources used within the parks."

"In 2016 and beyond, my hope/expectation is that our national parks
showcase natural ecosystems in good functioning order, where those parks
are located in natural areas. Historic parks accurately retell the
history of their places, and are managed to promote healthy soils, good
stormwater management and ecosystem resilience. Collectively they
exemplify long-term management of natural and built resources,
incorporating energy efficiency, energy conservation and materials
durability. Short term expediency does not win out over long term
resource protection and effective management."

"There are many potential roles so I will focus on one that I believe
can help the environment. By 2016 the NPS will have spent a hundred
years improving on preservation and protection techniques, and, more
recently, sustainability. In all units of the NPS effective methods are
used to preserve cultural and natural resources in place so they can be
enjoyed by future generations. The operations, facilities, and
techniques to accomplish this are designed to be sustainable. Through
the sharing of this information by the NPS, these principals can be
applied to everyday life in the care of personally owned cultural and
natural resources and material items. If implemented by society on a
large scale, this would lead to reducing adverse impacts to resources
while providing for sustained use of material items. Adapting principals
of sustainability will reduce the need to take ever declining natural
resources to manufacture materials items."

"National parks should serve as innovative models of sustainability that
people can apply to their daily lives. The concept of sustainability
provides many opportunities for relating national park resources to
everyone\'s lives, especially since it is inherent in the mission of the
National Park Service. The NPS should become a more significant part of
America\'s educational system by providing more programs about
sustainability and climate change inside and outside park boundaries."

***Staffing - Provide adequate staffing levels***

*Comments generally express support for providing adequate staff to
fulfill the NPS mission. Comments also express a need to reinvigorate
park staff and managers.*

**Representative Quotes:**

"Please continue to hire people who serve as capable good will
ambassadors for our country when interacting with foreign visitors. I
have witnessed so many examples of good American character represented
by NPS employees. Please keep making this a priority for NPS
interactions with visitors from other countries. Our visitors should be
impressed with our stunning natural resources but also with the courtesy
and capability of our Park Service staff. Keep your employees happy.
They are powerful ambassadors."

"The NPS uses volunteers very effectively and it is very good to have
such a large cadre of capable and interested people. But for many
positions and to really take care of the resources and visitors too many
professional positions have gone unfunded. It is fair to have parks
justify their budget requests, but declining staffing levels need to be
restaffed. Contracting out such jobs as entrance stations may or may not
save some dollars, but in terms of true public service and getting the
message across to visitors it doesn\'t even rate as a poor second."

"I hope that in 2016 and beyond the national parks are in pristine
condition, fully staffed with knowledgeable interpreters, rangers and
staff who are passionate about the work they do and who, along with the
visitors, are dedicated to keeping the parks from being degraded,
developed, and over used."

***Staffing - Provide more uniformed rangers***

*Comments express a desire for more personal interaction with park
rangers and want to see more uniformed rangers in the parks.*

**Representative Quotes:**

"Rangers are the keepers and the experts in our parks. More all-day
hikes should be offered by rangers. Right now, people going into the
backcountry are completely on their own, which means that most visitors
stick to the visitor centers and roads in a NP. There should be more
opportunities to go out for the day or even backpack with rangers. When
we go into a national treasure such as the White House, we get a tour
with an expert. Why not in a National Park?"

     

"Specifically, employ more uniformed rangers interacting with the public
through formal programs, guided tours and hikes, as well as informal
interactions while roving trails and overlooks."

"To make parks relevant in the 21st century, do what made them relevant
in the 20th century. Put people back in the equation!\
\
Parks will never compete with video games if the goal is to make parks
more like video games.\
\
The one thing video games absolutely fail at is true human connection.
I\'ve seen figures saying less than 5 percent of park visitors actually
interact with a park ranger. That suggests parks are replicating the
failure of the computer age, not the successes of it.\
\
Focus your efforts on restoring human contact between visitors and staff
\-- real staff, NOT volunteers, concessionaires, contractors or
representatives of friends groups and cooperating associations. Those
are good and useful people, but they are no substitutes for the
authentic representatives of park management.\
\
Teach your maintenance workers and cops (the law enforcment specialists)
how to engage visitors, not confront them. Get your office workers on
the trails and into the visitor centers.\
\
Visitors want to be valued as people, not as commodities or customers,
Employees do, too (throttle the utterly demeaning term \"human
capital\").\
\
That human connection will then become your link to human and cash
support. People can and will support what they relate to. The human
connection is the source of that relationship. Focus on that above all
else."

"I would hope that the park could provide live interpretation through
interaction with rangers and not just through panels and static
displays. More and more parks are not able to fund the salaries needed
for interpretive staff and are forced to rely on volunteers. Volunteers,
by their enthusiasm for their topic, are great sources of information
but even they need educational guidance on presenting to the public.
This can only come from staff trained in the interpretive field. Funding
for this staff must be returned to a viable level for all parks. With
out live interpretation, a park visit becomes a stagnant experience and
history remains un-touchable and a thing of the past rather than
something that can guide us for our future."

***Staffing - Maintain a diverse and knowledgeable staff***

*Comments express a need to maintain a diverse and well-educated staff
of individuals who are very knowledgeable about the parks, including
park resources and recreational opportunities.*

**Representative Quotes:**

"I hope that there is an enthusiastic , knowledgeable staff at the parks
that are able to share information about the cultural significance and
scientifically accurate information about the resources. I\'d like to
think that the staff is a mix of young, energetic, well educated rangers
and older folks that know their park intimately through years of service
at a single site."

"Restore the level of park staffing to what it was years ago. This means
visitor service staff, maintenance staff and stewardship staff. With
more staffing, for example, one could have people stationed at sensitive
areas to answer questions, and keep an eye on the people, and fewer
places would have to be off limits to preserve them.\
\
Train your staff. When the visitor knows more about the park than the
park employee\--something is amiss.\
\
Hire more local staff. For a while, this was done in the Ozarks and it
was delightful. Staff are often required to have advanced degrees, but
never use their specialized knowledge or abilities. Let them, as long as
it is consistent with park mission and goals."

***Staffing - Expand use of volunteers and volunteer opportunities***

*Comments express supporting the expanded use of volunteers and
volunteer opportunities in parks, to engage people and to augment base
staff levels.*

**Representative Quotes:**

"National Parks need to have knowledgeable docents and volunteers on
hand during the spring-summer-fall who can \'tell the story\' to the
public about all of these things. \'Off season,\' these same docents and
volunteers can \'tell the story\' to community groups, schools, etc. to
be sure that the Park System, which is a unique part of our American
heritage, remains a \'front of mind\' issue to the public at large."

"I think the recruiting, providing training and provision of housing for
volunteers offers one of the greatest potential for the future of the
parks."

"Opportunities need to be available for youth to not only visit National
Parks, but to get their hands dirty and serve. With volunteerism and
public service, the ethics that NPS exemplify will take on new meaning."

"The National Park Service doesn\'t take advantage of volunteerism as
much as they could. It\'s a lot easier to volunteer with the
Conservation Association and the Forest Service than with the NPS. I\'ve
tried to volunteer for the Smokies but the paperwork is just a monster."

***Special Uses - Allow for wide range of new uses***

*Comments express a desire to allow for a wide range of new uses in
parks such as special events, for-profit ventures, or resource
extraction.*

**Representative Quotes:**

"By implementing these and many more types of programs and projects, and
leveraging the opportunity for private sector investments, the National
Park Service could help modernize and upgrade its aging infrastructure
while generating millions of dollars in annual cost savings in
buildings, utilities and transportation systems. Moreover, the park
service would reduce its overall environmental footprint, minimize green
house gas and other pollution emissions, while providing leadership by
example for other federal agencies and the general public. In the end,
the National Park Servie becomes a model for sustainable design and
development, resource conservation and preservation."

     

"NPS should take an annual role in sponsoring conservation/preservation
fairs in schools around the country, similar to the science fairs that
are now regular occurrences."

"The Artists in the Parks program should be retained and strengthened,
and NPS should try to recruit Native Americans into the program."

***Technology - Use technology to reach new audiences***

*Comments support using new technology (such as TV, the web)
appropriately to reach younger generations and remain relevant to modern
populations.*

**Representative Quotes:**

"Emerging media technologies using devices such as cell phones, iPods,
and GPS-enabled devices can bring knowledge and love of National Parks
to an expanding audience. So much of what we do in preserving natural
and cultural resources is unknown to the public. Using these devices
will make it more feasible to expand interpretation and education, and
to provide for better enjoyment and safety. We also need to upgrade
traditional media such as museum exhibits, some of which are more than
30 years old."

"I envision investments in technology that will provide a dynamic
experience that goes beyond each individual park, but provides a global
linkage to other parks as a collective asset for the Nation. Each park
will play a greater role in the preservation and development of the
community and State they reside in."

"Many of our parks, especially in the east are historical - these should
incorporate technological advances for presenting as much information as
possible - computers, videos, trained interpreters to interact with the
public and answer questions."

"the parks could offer workshops for teens and tweens where they would
help NPS brainstorm about ways to integrate technology into the park
experience, while being sensitive to the Organic Act and the mission of
the specific park. They could offer suggestions about ways to make
visitor services (e.g. campground design, brochures, visitor centers)
more appealing to their age bracket. NPS could ask the question, \"what
would make a visit fun for you?\" Perhaps NPS could make use of RTCA
staff to help facilitate these workshops broadly to capture the opinions
of people who are not visiting the parks."

***Trails - Comments related trails and trail management***

*Comments related to trails including expanding or removing trails,
trail maintenance, trail uses and including the segregation of trail
uses.*

**Representative Quotes:**

"I would like certain backcountry trails reserved for foot traffic,
others designated where livestock are permitted, and restrictions on
accessibility of ORVs and snowmobiles, because of the stress on wildlife
as well as trail erosion."

"Funding for trail maintenance. Every official trail in every National
Park should be maintained properly. Right now, we have many trails in
the Smokies that are not adequately maintained. Many of them are old,
wide roads which means that they don\'t disappear. Though each trail is
walked once a year by the park staff and their condition evaluated,
these trails are not maintained. My hope is that there is enough funding
to maintain trails to national Park standard. This will encourage more
people to get out of their cars and walk."

"Do not build any more trails. The ones we have are plenty. Trail
construction destroys wildlife habitat."

"Please allow responsible mountain biking on sustainable, natural
surface trails. The people I know who travel to parks to enjoy the
recreation and experience of mountain biking are some of the most civic
minded, courteous, and well intentioned patrons the national park could
hope for. By opening trails and allowing responsible trail building, the
national park would be opening the beauty and wonder of the outdoor
wilderness experience to a new evolving generation of socially conscious
individuals."

"Since my choice of recreation is saddle and pack stock, I would like to
see more trails opened up to stock. Using stock to reach backcountry
experiences is part of the history of our country, and I would like more
people to be able to experience this"

***Transportation - Expand public transportation to parks***

*Comments support expanded public transportation to parks.*

**Representative Quotes:**

"Everyone should be able to get to their closest National Park by public
transportation. Visiting a national park should not be a once-in-a
lifetime event. In particular, the eastern parks are within a day away
of half the population of the U.S. and should be serviced by public
transportation. International visitors love our National Parks and
expect to visit the parks without renting a car."

"I would also like to see more public transportation from urban areas
and nearby communities to the national parks."

"Whatever the role, access to parks should be via public transit (esp.
overseas guests)"

***Transportation - Provide alternative transportation in parks***

*Comments support and promote developing more alternative transportation
in parks.*

**Representative Quotes:**

"I would hope that by 2016, visitor traffic would be handled in a way
that reduces polution and congestion on park roads. Early steps at Zion,
Grand Canyon, Yosemite, and Yellowstone could be expanded system wide,
seasonally, for those parks that get the most visitors."

"I hope that some day the scourge of automobiles will be removed from
all our national parks, replaced with quiet, non-polluting, non-invasive
public transportation with a minimal impact. An example would be
somthing like a monorail type system in most visited parks like Yosemite
and Yellowstone, and bicycles, even modern-style rickshaws, and when
necessary, electric buses in other parks."

"Then there are the issues surrounding visitation in the parks. NPS
should be leading the nation in providing non-motorized transportation
options for pedestrians and bicyclists. Since many of the major parks
were established for a \"windshield\" experience, their transportation
system revolves entirely around cars - relevant when the parks were
established, but not in the 21st Century. Preservation of their
\"transportation system\" is limited to filling potholes and maintaining
roads and bridges. I use the term \"transportation system\" loosely
because the existing system is not multi-modal and the agency does not
have a National, Regional or Park Transportation Plans (no vision, no
goals, no strategies). There is no vision for how multi-modal
transportation options enable visitors to experience the parks or its
relation to preserving natural and cultural resources. There are a few
transit systems, but NPS doesn\'t even know how many they own and
operate, let alone what the systems cost. There are backcountry trails,
but NPS doesn\'t address how to connect trails from gateway communities
into the front country areas of the parks so that people could walk or
bicycle into the park rather than using a car."

***Urban Areas - Reach urban areas and populations***

*Comments express a need to provide park experiences in urban areas that
are easily accessible to larger populations. Comments also express a
need to make parks and park experiences relevant to urban populations,
through outreach or other measures.*

**Representative Quotes:**

"For signature projects, extend urban National Park experiment (IE:
GGNRA \[Golden Gate National Recreation Area\]) to bring the values of
NPS closer to the underserved populations. Protect endangered species
and wild places near urban centers, no ball fields or dog parks."

"NPS should provide a great deal more outreach to citizens in urban
areas, to gain additional support for parks and the park system.

Recruit staff from urban areas and minority populations. NPS should be
more proactive and send representatives to school career days."

"Community Parks in small Cities and Towns would be appreciated and used
daily. Particularly, cities that have experienced major urban sprawl and
have abandoned their downtown. With so much attention being placed on
urban renewal the NPS could support this effort."

***Wilderness - Comments on wilderness and wild places***

*Comments express the importance of wilderness and wild places, and
support preservation of wilderness and wilderness management.*

**Representative Quotes:**

"I hope that the National Parks will continue to allow us to visit
America\'s wilderness. It is vitally important that there remain small
pieces of the country the way it used to be. The Park Service is the
only enterprise that can devote itself to preserving the unspoiled
beauty spots of America. Please leave motorized recreation and
Disney-park fun to corporations. The National Parks should remain as
unspoiled as possible."

"The National Parks of the United States should be maintained with
respect for all wildlife and plantlife and serve as an oasis for the
people of America and the world as well. There should be a minimum of
commercialization so that the beauty of the wilderness prevails."

"Entering into the solitude and vastness of true wildness, is unmatched
by any other human experience. Humankind is perilously close to losing
its \"soul\" because of the wanton destruction of wildness! Life without
these refuges is, quite simply, unimaginable!"

"First, I hope that all wilderness areas will be preserved, and that we
constantly strive to add more wilderness to the system. I would hope
that land use planning would advance to the point where we consider
creating buffer zones that prevent development (and exploitation) of
lands in proximity to parks wherever that development would detract from
the experience of visiting the park."

"I believe our national parks should remain committed to the
preservation of the surviving wilderness of America. I hope the
government does not yield to pressure from recreators, as I believe
pristine and natural environments will outrank any other cause in the
future. Americans should always have a wild place to turn to in a time
of need, and as a developed nation, we should be a model to the rest of
the world."