Parks are in our DNA 
They make us more human
America’s parks have always been a refuge; a place to explore, unwind, marvel, reflect and breathe. While their existence is truly American, and embodies our democratic roots, efforts to expand and preserve our park heritage face scrutiny in the timeless battle between the public good and private interests. Park protection and expansion in the twenty twenty’s and beyond is vital to our personal health, our national health and our planet’s health.
We are calmer and more engaged in nature
From the smallest, urban green canopy to the grandest national park, the closer you are to green spaces, the healthier you become. In her book The Nature Fix, Florence Williams, a contributing editor to Outside Magazine and a freelance writer for the New York Times and National Geographic explores the science behind the nurture in nature. http://www.florencewilliams.com/the-nature-fix. She points out scientists in Japan discovered just 15 minutes in nature can lower cortisol levels.
“It is a pact between generations, a promise from the past to the future” -NPSAB
In July 2001, the National Parks Advisory Board issued a report on the focus and purpose of national parks for the next 25 years. The first two sentences of the report succinctly define the impact of national parks, but the sentiment is relevant for all park projects. “The creation of a national park is an expression of faith in the future. It is a pact between generations, a promise from the past to the future” https://www.nps.gov/policy/report.htm
90% of Americans consider the conservation and preservation of national parks important.
2019 marks the 100th anniversary of the Grand Canyon as a national park. In February a poll conducted by yougov.com found 90% of Americans consider the conservation and preservation of national parks important. In these polarized times, that type of overwhelming consensus is rare.
70% of Americans say they are more likely to vote for local politicians who make park and recreation funding a priority.
Politicians of all stripes, take note! In 2016 the National Recreation and Park Association commissioned a study which found 75% of Americans support increased local government spending for parks and recreation areas and 70% of Americans say they are more likely to vote for a candidate who supports park funding.
Parks are some of the best tools to protect people from a changing climate
According to Brendan Shane, Director of Climate for the Trust for Public Land, effective management of parks and open space can literally pull excess carbon out of the air. “When we protect working forests and expand tree canopy and urban green space, we don’t just protect wildlife, water quality, and treasured public spaces—we also help to meet these ambitious global targets. Parks are some of the best tools to protect people from a changing climate.”
Our 21st century legacy
As we move into the third decade of this young century, our biological need for natural connections accelerates as our day-to-day world is co-opted by AI. Parks ground us, nurture us, and restore us. Park access, preservation and expansion could potentially be the defining legacy of the 21st century.