Our national parks have an extraordinary, special place in American life and culture. Yet the erosion of park funding threatens the future of these beloved American institutions. Without creative and collaborative approaches, our parks will face increased closures, a decline in the quality of facilities and ranger services, and a diminished ability to protect threatened inholdings and maintain existing resources. The National Parks Conservation Association and the National Park Hospitality Association are launching a national dialogue to identify potential funding strategies that can tap into the deep bipartisan appreciation for America's treasured national parks and draw on bipartisan support.

The Bridge-Builder Event is an important step in our process, which ultimately aims to finalize recommendations for a sustainable funding solution for the parks, with engagement from all parts of the parks community – from advocates and friends organizations, to concessioners and gateway communities, to health and education community leaders and more – and meaningful bipartisan support. Developing broad stakeholder consensus is essential to securing sustainable supplementary funding for America’s National Parks and ensuring their long-term viability.

Blog Recap

America’s Parks and Public Lands: Good for the Nation’s Health

Opening Remarks

Briefing

Panel Discussion

Analysis and Discussion of Poll Results

Closing Remarks

Featuring

Sen. Mark Udall
U.S. Senator from Colorado
Follow @MarkUdall

Whit Ayres
President, North Star Opinion Research

Hon. Norm Dicks
Former U.S. Representative, State of Washington

Geoff Garin
President, Peter Hart Research Associates

Hon. Dan Glickman
Senior Fellow, Bipartisan Policy Center
Former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture

Jeremy Jacobs
Principal, Delaware North Companies

Hon. Dirk Kempthorne
Former U.S. Secretary of the Interior
President & CEO, American Council of Life Insurers

Gary Kiedaisch
Chairman & CEO, Igloo

Hon. Jim Oberstar
Former U.S. Representative, State of Minnesota

Hon. Lynn Scarlett
Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Interior
Director of the Center for Management of Ecological Wealth, Resources for the Future

Hon. Christie Todd Whitman
Former Governor of New Jersey
Former Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency

Nutrition and Physical Activity Initiative