National Parks: When Saving Money is Valued Higher than Our Environment

Art is not just confined to the walls of a museum, edges of a canvas, or within a photograph; it is all around us. I’d even argue that natural art is the most beautiful art we have. You do not need to pay for a ticket to see art, just look outside your window.

Some of my most formative memories come from experiences within the U.S. National Parks. From my first national park at the Badlands to roadtripping through Mount Rainier, Yellowstone, and Glacier National Parks, some of the most beautiful, life changing experiences occurred in these places. Mount Rainier has the most engaging hikes and wilderness activities, with switchback trails up the mountain and huge waterfalls as the destination. Glacier has the most beautiful views I have ever seen, from the panoramic mountains to the Going to the Sun road, the views are unmatched. Yellowstone, by far, has THE wildlife. We saw elk, bison, birds, and bears (baby bears too).

The proposed defunding of The U.S. National Park Service is not only a threat to the environment, but to the purest form of art. Budget cuts would result in a lack of staffing, deteriorating facilities and roads, reduced visitor safety, and compromised wildlife. Apart from the park itself, the national parks provide millions of dollars to communities as well as a significant amount of jobs. A staffing shortage would result in many people losing their jobs, nature and wildlife losing their support/protection, and communities losing their economy. Defunding national parks does not only limit access to natural art, it will bring down the educational quality of the parks and the economic benefit as well.

Decreasing funds allocated for The U.S. National Parks is not only wrong, it is criminal. Criminal to the employees, animals, plants, visitors, and most importantly, to the world. National parks are protected places, where people go to experience safe and cared for wildlife. Why are national parks less important than a man-made museum? Where is the benefit in saving money at the cost of destroying our protected environment?

I’ll leave you with a friendly reminder: we should be appreciating and protecting the natural art of our world, because when we’re gone it is the only thing that will be left. It was here long before us and deserves to outlive us.