Barbara Tulipane, president and CEO of the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) issued the following statement in response to the president’s action to reduce the size of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments:

“As a representative of state and local park managers, NRPA has supported the integrity and purpose of our nation’s public lands for over 50 years. We urge President Trump and the Secretary of the Interior, Ryan Zinke, to reconsider the plan to significantly reduce the size and boundaries of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments and to restore the full protection of national monument status as they were designated. These monuments contribute to the outdoor recreation industry, which generates $887 billion of economic activity and supports over 7 million jobs.

“More importantly, our nation’s public lands are special and part of what make us a great nation. Reducing our treasured lands threatens our nation’s health and economic well-being. Our nation’s public lands, therefore, must remain public so that they can be enjoyed by all Americans as they were intended.” 

About the National Recreation and Park Association
The National Recreation and Park Association is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that all Americans have access to parks and recreation for health, conservation and social equity. Through its network of 60,000 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.