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After a successful centennial celebration , the U . S . National Park Service looks to its second century
BY DONALD LEADBETTER , U . S . NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
Donald Leadbetter
IN 2016 the U . S . National Park Service commemorated its 100th anniversary with a yearlong celebration , achieved with the support of a wide array of partners , that generated unprecedented public engagement . The oncein-a-century event created a groundswell of support among the American public and national park enthusiasts across the world that will propel the agency into a second century of caring for the natural and cultural treasures of the United States .
George Washington Carver National Monument , Missouri
From the outset , the National Park Service established a centennial goal to connect with and create the next generation of park visitors , supporters and advocates . Working with the National Park Foundation , the NPS launched the Find Your Park movement to engage younger audiences , while also welcoming Americans and travelers who love the national parks and public lands .
Find Your Park / Encuentra Tu Parque reached new and diverse audiences
Since its launch in 2015 , the Find Your Park ad campaign — and its Spanishlanguage counterpart , Encuentra Tu Parque — has engaged hundreds of
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE millions of people across the country and throughout the world . The campaign garnered significant national attention through print and web media , public service announcements , public relations , live events , social media campaigns and donated advertising .
Over the course of the centennial , NPS social media accounts added millions of new followers , greatly increasing the digital community of park enthusiasts and supporters . Additionally , traditional media coverage of national parks in 2016 significantly eclipsed coverage in prior years . The Find Your Park campaign will continue in 2017 , and the travel industry is invited to partner with the National Park Service to maintain the momentum built over the last two years .
Thousands of centennial events
Throughout 2015 and 2016 , parks and partners across the country hosted high-profile events and special programs to celebrate the centennial , everything from the 2016 Rose Parade to special concerts , citizen science events , endurance challenges and much more . Thousands of activities in parks and communities offered a variety of ways for visitors to join the anniversary celebration .
Visitors flocked to the parks
Visitation to national parks broke records in 2016 , as Americans and international travelers joined the celebration . Total visitation to the entire park system in 2016 increased by 7.7 percent over 2015 to 330 million visits .
Many of the most popular parks , such as Yosemite and Zion , set visitation records , but lesser-known hidden gems experienced a surge in visitation as well . Parks as diverse as San Antonio Missions National Historical Park , Cedar Breaks National Monument , Joshua Tree National Park , Fort Smith National Historic Site and Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway saw sharp upticks in visitation across the centennial . While in some places the surge presented challenges to park staff , the engagement and interest of park visitors was welcome ; it is vital for the long-term public support for the parks .
10 April / May 2017