Centennial Commission

“Though the world has changed profoundly since the first national parks were created more than a century ago, the national park idea continues to provide benefits of fundamental importance to the nation…In looking to the future we must see to it as nation and as a people that the National Park System and the national park idea continue to flourish.”

John Hope Franklin, Chair

National Park Service Advisory Board (2004)

THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

CENTENNIAL COMMISSION

Recommendations by the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees

August 25, 2006

Proud Traditions – A Context for Action

Establishing a national park area is an act of faith in the future - a contract with generations yet to come. The requirements to carry out this generational contract places an obligation upon the shoulders of the American people and their elected representatives for something more than short term benefit or gain. For over a century, through a rich tradition of law and public service, our national parks continue to contribute to a more perfect American Union. These places are landscapes and historic shrines in which we feel wonder, reverence, respect, taking pride in those things that demonstrate America at its best. We take patriotic pride that we live in a land where such places exist and that we are a people capable of reserving this natural and cultural patrimony for our generation and generations not yet born. As our society evolves, our national park areas mirror the interests and the evolving history of our American people. Our National Park System has achieved prominence in our way of life becoming one cornerstone in how citizens define their quality of life as Americans. Born from our citizens’ deep love of their land and ideas, coupled with the intense political process necessary to set aside these places, parks are given the most special status of protection that our society offers to our American lands. Through this distinctly generational American process our national parks truly become our nation’s best examples of the will of the people to protect their natural and cultural heritage.

On August 25, 1916, the Congress established the National Park Service and codified its purposes in public law “to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.”

Again, in 1970 in Public Law 91-38, Congress eloquently described the National Park System that “has since grown to include superlative national, historic, and recreation areas in every major region of the United States, its territories and island possessions; that these areas, though distinct in character, are united through the inter-related purposes and resources into one national park system as cumulative expressions of a single national heritage; that individually and collectively, these areas derive increased national dignity and recognition of their superb environmental quality through their inclusion jointly with each other in one national park system preserved and managed for the benefit and inspiration of all the people of the United States…”

These and other key acts have guided and defined each of our individual national parks, the collective system to which they belong, and the government service delegated to care for them, all to assure these places are passed unimpaired to the future benefiting each generation in turn.

“The National Park Service has a 21st century responsibility of great importance. It is to proclaim anew the meaning and value of parks, conservation, and recreation; to expand the learning and research occurring in parks and share the knowledge broadly; and to encourage all Americans to experience these special places.”

National Park System Advisory Board, 2004

Reaffirmation of the Promise

Over 100 years ago leaders of vision and high principles came together to conceive a very special idea unique to the world – the national park idea. The evolution of this vision led to the creation of a single national park system in 1916, led by the National Park Service to administer those lands with the special care for which they were set aside. The centennial of the National Park Service is but 10 years in the future.

To ensure a second century of vitality and purpose the fundamental principles of our national park system as “cumulative expressions of a single national heritage” must be nationally re-invigorated. It is time to restore the great idea to the prominence it has traditionally enjoyed in our national community, insulated from the divisiveness of partisan politics and destructive political ideology not practiced in the public interest. It is time to create a national dialog to determine a new 21st century ideal for the national park system, to better understand its place and perspective in our national society and global context, to explore governance and how best to assure our parks are passed on to future generations unimpaired. The interests of citizens, park professionals, scholars and academics, advocacy and support organizations, politicians and political appointees, business and industry leaders must be ignited to join and engage a common endeavor to lead our parks into a successful second century.

The Coalition Call to Action

The Coalition of National Park Service Retirees believes it can contribute to a national dialog through collaborative efforts with the great diversity of national stakeholders. The Coalition brings to the table thousands of year worth of knowledge, background and experience in national park leadership and a deep commitment to the national park idea. It is the belief of the Coalition that a second century of American national parks can only be assured by a deliberate and conscious national effort that seeks to reaffirm principles and commitments engaging the future through strategic decisions of the present. Our National Park System got to where it is today because of citizen activism, bi-partisan political action and a body of law establishing a management framework. It will take no less effort and deliberate dedication to assure a second century celebration.

The Coalition of National Park Service Retirees calls for the establishment and convening of a non-partisan National Park Service Centennial Commission to lead the nation in a deep and thoughtful multi-year national dialog. The Commission will explore the importance of parks in our society and national life and determine the long term governance strategies that will meet the future needs of our nation and assure long term sustainability of our nation’s system of parks. Enlightened national leadership must create the circumstances to begin this dialog on behalf of the broadest public interest. The Commission will develop a report, or series of reports, on the status of the national park system, the issues the system faces, constraints that impact the system and challenges to be faced in the new century. The Commission’s work would examine alternatives for addressing these issues and constraints that must be engaged, including fiscal and human resources required to accomplish the mission of the system for the long term.

Under the direction of the Commission, a single Study Panel, or series of Study Panels, will be authorized to examine in greater technical detail such issues as future challenges and constraints, organizational requirements for a new century, governance models, long term strategic management considerations or any other topic the Commission requires study on. These panel considerations will be synthesized into recommendations for the Commission to examine and report on.

From public engagement and scholarly study must spring commitment to action. The outcomes of the Centennial Commission must be interpreted into a renewed national commitment to lead our National Park System into a second century of success. This must come by implementing the recommendations of the National Park Service Centennial Commission into a bold, multi-year “Keeping the Promises” Plan culminating in 2016, the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service.

“One hundred years from now, as people look back on our use of this continent, we shall not be praised for our reckless use of its oil, nor the weakening of our watershed values through overgrazing, nor the loss of our forests; we shall be heartily damned for all these things. But we may take comfort in the knowledge that we shall certainly be thanked for the national parks.”

Ray Lyman Wilbur

Secretary of the Interior, 1929 -1933

Possible Strategies for Commission Formation

  • The Commission, its charter and goals might be carried out through Executive Order.
  • The Commission, its charter and goals might be legislatively authorized and necessary funds appropriated.
  • The Commission, its charter and goals might be established and carried out by an independent, highly respected institution with national credentials. An objective academic organization might seek to establish the Commission on behalf of the broader public interest, funding its activities through a combination of philanthropic sources, public funds and organizational funds. Such independence must be subscribed to by citizens and political interests of the country who will be the ultimate inheritors and implementers of the recommendations.
  • Critical to the success of the Commission is a non-partisan focus. If the Commission is politicized it will be come polarized. Findings must be submitted to not only the President and the Congress but also the people of the United States for whom the parks are held in Trust. The recommendations can not be political “daggers” intended to find fault with any particular administration or congress, even though they must be carried out by successive political administrations and congresses.
  • A political mechanism must be in place assuring the long term achievement of the Commission’s recommendations over time. The recommendations must be translated into a national political and moral will to assure accomplishment of commitments. Normally, commissions do their work and then dissolve. To provide the continuity required to implement the recommendations over successive years and administrations it may be advantageous to continue this commission’s work through the full period it takes to achieve the recommendations. It could complement, or take the place, of the present National Park System Advisory Board for that period of time.
  • The Commission and its subcommittees or study panels must be made up of a select group of national stature leaders known for their objectivity, creativity and strong commitment to protect our national heritage. At their discretion, advisors and counselors from other park systems or globally protected areas may be selected to inform the work of the Commission.
  • The work of the Commission must be seen as bi-partisan “on behalf of all American citizens” carried out in the fullest sense of that charter. National hearings must be balanced and insightful, informed by scholarly examination of themes and issues, representing the broad public interest. While respectful of, and informed by more narrow political interests and special interest groups, the work of the Commission will be characterized in the broadest interest of the public good.
  • The work of the Commission should project an immediacy of need and focused effort required to carry out its charter. Similarly, some similar mechanism must be in place for the Congress to effectively deliberate on its recommendations and carry them out as appropriate.

The Role of the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees

Strategically the Coalition has focused its role as an important catalyst organization, planting “seeds of possibility” with organizations, citizens, an informed press, and supportive political figures. The Coalition has long identified the creation of a Centennial Commission as its most important long term goal. The Coalition will continue these efforts through a multi-year strategic plan that accomplishes specific goals. They are:

1. Launch a sequence of actions leading to a Centennial Commission and a substantive and forward-looking centennial rather than a mere celebration of past accomplishments starting in CY-2006.

· There are two important concepts developed by the Coalition that are strategically linked to the Centennial Commission. First, the Coalition believes that a scholarly and informed series of national park studies issued through formal reports are essential to the work of the Centennial Commission. These studies will be carried out by the Centennial Institute for National Park Studies that will be lodged independently in an academic institution, charged with unbiased examination of our national park system. Secondly, a Coalition - based Collaborative Initiative will seek to develop a closer professional and supportive relationship with the National Park Service as it approaches its centennial.

· Start the initial planning, including identification of possible stakeholders and collaborators, to seek a “roundtable of interested parties” to convene and consider the potentials of the Centennial Commission.

· Make formal contacts with the National Park Service, Department of the Interior, and other outside organizations that are presently working toward some type of centennial event offering the interests of the Coalition to those efforts.

2. Advance to a second stage sequence of events leading to a Centennial Commission and a substantive and forward-looking centennial rather than a mere celebration of past accomplishments starting in CY – 2007.

· Participate in the convening of a “Roundtable” meeting to develop points to be recommended to all political parties for the development of their 2008 party platforms.

· At the “Roundtable” work with collaborators to lay the groundwork for a Centennial Commission, its national deliberations and subsequent “Keeping the Promises Plan” perhaps presented in a national “Second Century Conference”.

· Implement and complete the first phase of the Coalition efforts to develop a Centennial Institute for National Park Studies, developing ten “informed opinion” reports from selected retirees on selected themes. This effort will lay the foundation to eventually transition this effort to a neutral, third party academic institution that will continue vital scholarly investigation of a wide spectrum of national park issues. Relationships with 3 to 5 institutions will be established to judge interest in institutionalizing the Centennial Institute for National Park Studies concept.

· Undertake the initiatives developed in the Collaborative Initiative creating a more professional and supportive connection to the National Park Service.

3. Advance to a third stage sequence of events leading to the establishment of the Centennial Commission and establishment of a Technical Panel in CY – 2008 and 2009. Should progressive conditions exist it may be possible to accelerate to the fourth and final stage leading to the work of the Centennial Commission.

· Work with all parties to establish a Commission and carry out a “Second Century Conference” as a part of the Commission activities. This conference could launch the effort or serve as the forum for release of recommendations.

· The Coalition would release a second round of papers and would more narrowly focus its efforts in finding a third party sponsor of the Centennial Institute for National Park Studies.

4. Advance to the fourth stage a sequence of events leading to the actual work of a Centennial Commission and hearing and investigations across the country in CY-2010 to 2016. As noted above, it is important to recognize the conditions where this time line can be advanced and recommendations successfully implemented and realized.

· Commission created, staffed and operational.

· Commission report released

· NPS 2016 legislation to accomplish Commission recommendations introduced.

· NPS 2016 legislation enacted and implemented

· Professional NPS management of the public trust restored.

In conclusion

The legacy of today’s national park system was fashioned by leaders and citizens with vision, through hard work and dedication to bring it to where it presently is. It will take no less effort to allow this legacy to endure and to carry it successfully forward as our contract with future generations.