National Park Trust Celebrates 40 Years of Preserving Parks and Inspiring Future Park Stewards
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 12, 2023
Organization Reflects on Four Decades of Park Preservation and Looks Forward to Expanding New Youth Programs, Partnerships, and Park Projects
Washington, DC (January 12, 2023) – 2023 marks the 40th anniversary of the National Park Trust, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving national parks and providing young people with inspiring park experiences.
In 1983 National Park Trust was founded by a group of committed individuals who were passionate about protecting our nation’s parks. Today, the Park Trust benefits from a vibrant community of park enthusiasts, including board members, educators, students, families, military communities, nonprofit partners, donors, and staff who work together to support its mission to preserve parks today and create park stewards for tomorrow.
National Park Trust will continue to expand its longstanding partnership with the National Park Service as they identify critical lands – including places of historical and cultural significance – for the Park Trust to purchase for transfer to the National Park Service. In 40 years, the Park Trust has added over 25,000 acres to 51 national park sites. These parcels range from less than an acre to over ten thousand acres. No matter the size, each complex project is of high value to the park and community.
The Park Trust also works tirelessly to cultivate and inspire the next generation of park stewards. Their youth and family programs annually engage tens of thousands of students from kindergarten through college – and thousands of families across the country.
“The National Park Trust has grown by leaps and bounds since its founding 40 years ago. The organization’s work is widely recognized and deeply respected across the country, protecting national parks and connecting under-served kids and families to public lands and waters. And even with all the Park Trust’s many accomplishments, the organization is extraordinarily well positioned for continued growth and enhanced impact in the years and decades ahead.”
SCott Stone, Naitonal Park trust board chair
“As we look to the future, our work is more important than ever. We remain committed to our vision that everyone will experience the endless possibilities of our public parks, lands, and waters.“
Grace Lee, National Park Trust Executive director
The National Park Trust will celebrate its anniversary by sharing inspirational stories that reflect key moments in the organization’s history. Its website, parktrust.org, features an interactive timeline with milestones highlighting its accomplishments since 1983.
ABOUT NATIONAL PARK TRUST
Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2023, National Park Trust’s mission is to preserve parks today and create park stewards for tomorrow. Since 1983, the Park Trust has acquired many of the missing pieces of our national parks, benefiting 51 national park sites. Our national youth education and family initiatives, including our Buddy Bison Programs and National Kids to Parks Day, serve 300 Title I schools annually and cultivate future park stewards. We believe that our public parks, lands, and waters should be cared for, enjoyed by, and preserved by all for current and future generations. Find out more at parktrust.org.
MEDIA CONTACT: Ivan Levin at 540.818.5818 or ivan@parktrust.org.
