IN SUPPORT OF NATIONAL PARKS

            WHEREAS, National Parks are the touchstones of our shared history and culture, conveying majestic landscapes that embody the American spirit; and

            WHEREAS, National Parks span geographic region, ethnic background, age, economic circumstance, and political persuasion; and

            WHEREAS, National Parks serve as anchors to greater urban park systems, and contribute to the physical and aesthetic quality of urban neighborhoods; and

            WHEREAS, National Parks are valuable contributors to job opportunities, youth development, public health, and community building; and

            WHEREAS, National Parks are economic engines critical to supporting residential, commercial, and community development activities in cities across America; and

            WHEREAS, National Parks provide affordable, safe, and inspiring places for people to play, exercise, and relax; and

            WHEREAS, every dollar invested in National Park operations generates $10 for local economies and every two Parks Service jobs yield one job outside the park; and

            WHEREAS, National Parks draw international tourists to our cities, and 8 of the top 25 tourist destinations in America are national park units; and

            WHEREAS, the National Park Service budget has been cut by 22% over the last three years and parks could see ongoing cuts for the foreseeable future; and

            WHEREAS, 92 percent of voters think that federal spending on National Parks should be increased or be kept the same; and

            WHEREAS, the nation will mark the 100th anniversary of the creation of the modern National Park System in 2016; and

            WHEREAS, since 1916, our park system has grown to include not only the most splendid examples of America’s unsurpassed natural and scenic heritage, but also the special places, artifacts, and stories of our nation’s birth, our struggles and triumphs as a people, and the shared values that unite us; and

            WHEREAS, National Parks are one of the few things on which overwhelming majorities of the American people agree,

            NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that The United States Conference of Mayors supports efforts to connect new and diverse constituents to national parks and protect the land and resources that surround national parks, and affirms its support for preserving the economic stability of our communities by protecting National Park budgets from further cuts.