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Local and State Park Groups Congratulate New Secretary of the Interior, Ryan Zinke

Mar 1, 2017

NRPA and NASPD pledge support to permanently authorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund and better connect youth to the outdoors

For Immediate Release Ashburn, Va. (March 1, 2017) — The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and National Association of State Park Directors (NASPD) congratulate Ryan Zinke on his Senate confirmation to serve as the new Secretary of the Interior and applaud his continued support for permanently authorizing the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). NRPA and NASPD also recognize U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) for highlighting the significance of LWCF as it relates to supporting outdoor recreation in local communities and city parks as part of his exchange with then nominee Zinke during January’s confirmation hearing. Both men agree on the importance of connecting youth to the great outdoors and teaching them the value of public lands, which NRPA and NASPD fully support. “Millions of people utilize local parks every day and I commend Sec. Zinke for recognizing the need to protect these spaces — especially for future generations,” said Barbara Tulipane, NRPA President and CEO. “Preservation of our public lands is a top priority. Now is the time for others to follow suit.” “The need to preserve access to our nation’s public lands has never been greater,” said Lewis Ledford, NASPD Executive Director. “State park visitation numbers are at an all-time high and with Sec. Zinke’s support to permanently authorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund we can ensure the accessibility and economic impact of our state parks for generations to come.” During his confirmation hearing, Zinke vowed to work in partnership with local communities and states on issues relating to the U.S. Department of Interior and its agencies like the National Park Service. NRPA and NASPD look forward to working with the department, as well, on preserving access to public lands through LWCF and other related conservation and outdoor recreation initiatives. A recent poll conducted by NRPA reaffirms the fact that Americans are passionate about the preservation of public lands, such as local, state and national parks. Eighty-two percent of Americans polled say it’s important to preserve public lands, including parks, recreation areas, forests, conservation areas, wildlife refuges, etc. This includes 62 percent of Americans who say it is either “very” or “extremely” important to protect open space.

To learn more about NRPA, visit www.nrpa.org/. To learn more about NASPD, visit www.stateparks.org/. ### About The National Recreation and Park Association The National Recreation and Park Association is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing park, recreation and conservation efforts that enhance quality of life for all people. Through its network of more than 52,000 recreation and park professionals and advocates, NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy and active lifestyles, conservation initiatives and equitable access to parks and public space. For more information, visit www.nrpa.org. For digital access to NRPA’s flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit www.parksandrecreation.org.

About The National Association of State Park Directors The National Association of State Park Directors promotes and advocates for the state park systems across America in providing for conservation and management of natural and cultural resources, quality outdoor recreation experiences, connecting children and families to nature and the outdoors, and more. With more than 10,200 park areas and visitation of 760 million annually, the economic impact to local communities is estimated to exceed $20 billion each year. America’s State Parks is an alliance of state park systems in all 50 states.

Media Contact: Heather Williams
Lewis Ledford 703.858.4743
919.218.9222 hwilliams@nrpa.org
info@naspd.org @NRPA_news