The United States is home to 63 breathtaking national parks, each offering a glimpse into America’s natural beauty and unique history. The idea behind the creation of the first national park, Yellowstone, in 1872, was to help preserve the natural landscape for future generations to enjoy and to help protect native plant and wildlife species. 84 million acres of America are covered by national parks, and 84 million acres of protection for fragile ecosystems, rare plant species, and endangered wildlife. National parks also offer unparalleled recreational and educational opportunities, allowing visitors to connect with nature, learn about animal populations and native cultures, and truly appreciate the natural landscape of the U.S. Economically, national parks play an important role as millions of tourists flow through local communities and towns each year and help support local businesses, creating jobs and generating billions of dollars in revenue. These parks deserve our protection; it is our job to help protect these national parks for future generations.

National parks protect the natural beauty of America and help display it for future generations. As previously mentioned, the creation of national parks primarily aimed to safeguard these iconic lands. During the government shutdown from December 22, 2018, to February 9, 2019, Joshua Tree National Park and many others were forced to remain open. Due to the parks being open but no workers or rangers on duty, many Joshua trees were torn down, trash was thrown everywhere, tire tracks marked the preserved desert, and irreversible damage was done to all aspects of the park. “I remember when the Joshua trees got damaged. It was so sad to see such a beautiful park get destroyed. I don’t know why people would do that.” Aejanae Humphrey (12) stated. It took a great deal of time and hard work to repair the park and the damaged ecosystems; the worst part of it all is that it was easily preventable. Having damage done to the parks not only harms the parks but also slows down everything having to do with them. We rely on the parks much more than just as a place for a hike or to sightsee.

National parks serve as habitats for more than 600 different endangered and threatened species. All over the country, both sea and land creatures call a national park home and rely on them to survive. National parks and their rangers help educate people on how to safely view and interact with animals, make and enforce the rules, and protect animals from invasive species. Doing these things is crucial to the survival of these animals; without the efforts of the rangers, these animals would most likely become endangered or extinct. Yearly, the United States government spends around $450 million on park protection, which includes animal preservation. It is necessary to spend this amount on parks; humans are the ones responsible for the destruction of these animals habitats. Keeping parks as a safe place for these animals to live is a must.

In 2023, national parks supported 410,000 jobs and contributed $55 billion to the U.S. economy. Across these parks, countless jobs keep the parks moving, from park rangers enforcing the rules to tour guides showcasing attractions, janitors cleaning up litter, and staff managing ticketing; there’s a job for anyone. Many of these workers are locals who earn a solid paycheck from the government while getting to work at a national park. Recently the U.S. government laid off numerous employees, including national park workers. If a national park is without staff, who would clean up litter or enforce the rules? In small towns surrounding the national parks, such as Moab, Utah, home to Arches National Park, and Flagstaff, Arizona, home to Grand Canyon National Park, tourism drives the economy. Moab alone had 3 million visitors in 2023, visitors who dine at local restaurants, browse souvenir shops, and stay at local hotels. This exchange benefits everyone. Tourists create unforgettable memories, and businesses thrive.

National parks are some of the most amazing places the world has to offer, with breathtaking views, safe habitats for animals, and unforgettable experiences that you will cherish. We need to do all we can to help support national parks and the people who work in them. Yearly all across America, national parks generate $55 billion in goods and services. We need to keep this number high by putting money into the parks to upkeep them and to pay the workers who work there. We must not turn a blind eye to them and loosen up rules and regulations; this will lead to litter, destruction of property, and the destruction of such iconic American attractions. “I think that the national parks need to be preserved so that we can continue to enjoy our natural world,” stated Grace McKee (12). America has benefited from national parks for centuries, but now it’s time for us to help them. We must keep them preserved for generations to come.