National Parks

America’s national parks are among our greatest treasures, open for everyone to explore and enjoy. They are a commons – a public trust – equally supported and shared by all, with no privileged access based on wealth or social status, and largely free from commercial or interest group capture.

Now that could change.

The National Park Service (NPS) is debating whether to revise Director’s Order #21 to allow corporate sponsorships and partnerships. The revision could permit corporate donor recognition on bricks, walkways, benches, park buses and other park areas. Partnerships with alcohol companies could also be permitted.

In reference to the beauty of our national parks, conservationist President Teddy Roosevelt said, “Our people should see to it that they are preserved for their children and their children’s children forever, with their majestic beauty all unmarred.” Corporate sponsorships are antithetical to that vision. This centennial year of the National Park Service is the time to celebrate the breathtaking splendor of our national parks, not abandon the very principle for which NPS was conceived.

The public says, “NO” to corporate advertising in national parks!

Following our review of hundreds of public comments filed with the National Park Service (NPS), Public Citizen’s Commercial Alert program and the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC) have renewed our demand that the NPS abandon plans that would open parks to corporate advertising. Click here to read the public comments and here to read our demands to the NPS.

Groups to National Park Service: Do Not Partner With Alcohol Companies, Display Alcohol Ads in Parks

Allowing alcohol company logos within America’s national parks disregards public health and puts youth at risk of dangerous drinking behavior, a coalition of 66 health groups said on October 27 in a letter (PDF) to the National Park Service.

We need your help!

Have you seen examples of commercialism already apparent in our national parks? Send us photos or your stories to commercialalert@citizen.org.