(RNS) — Aug. 4 is the five-year anniversary of the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act, a historic bipartisan effort to care for our national parks, fund long-overdue maintenance projects that impact visitor safety and wellbeing and invest in local and state parks. This landmark day also means that the GAOA is up for reauthorization, providing us with the critical opportunity to once again come together in support of our national parks.
As a Christian biblically called to steward God’s magnificent creation, this is both a day of celebration and a moment to recommit to defending national parks that preserve that creation. This day also holds special significance for me, as I recently returned from a two-month road trip visiting more than 20 national parks and public land sites. During the months of May and June, I witnessed firsthand the transformative power of stewardship and the need to continue these critical investments, along with the importance of expanding access to the outdoors for all.
For me, my faith is the primary motivator for defending national parks and all of God’s creation. It is also why I am so glad to work with the Evangelical Environmental Network, a ministry dedicated to helping our fellow evangelicals rediscover and reclaim the biblical mandate to care for creation. This calling involves stewarding God’s creation for future generations, including our national parks.
The New Testament book of Romans states, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities — his eternal power and divine nature — have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” For evangelicals concerned about sharing God’s love and character with the world, stewarding creation is a meaningful, tangible way to do that. A significant part of my desire to care for parks is the hope that others may revel in the healing, transformative power of creation and experience God in the great outdoors.
With so much suffering in the world, parks — not just national parks but local, state and urban parks — can be places of solace and healing as people experience God’s peace in God’s created world. Studies have shown that access to the outdoors can have vast benefits to our physical and mental health, and improving and expanding access to these spaces is an act of love for our neighbor.
On my road trip, I witnessed time and again the importance of investing in parks. From completed projects to the work left to be done, it is clear that adequately funding these places is vital for visitor safety and enjoyment. Over the years, many amenities, roads and structures have fallen into disrepair that only worsened as needed maintenance was deferred due to insufficient funding and support. Safe, upkept infrastructure is vital not only for visitor enjoyment but for accessibility for those with disabilities so that more people can enjoy these meaningful spaces. From bathrooms to roadways, water systems and entire campgrounds, many national parks have backlogs of deferred maintenance that the GAOA finally addressed after years of inaction.
In Yosemite National Park, I was grateful to have secured a camp spot in the park itself for six nights in the Crane Flat Campground — a GAOA success story that just re-opened after years of restoration. Crane Flat was once known as the worst place to stay in the park. It is now a lovely, rustic home base from which to explore this park with views that are nearly beyond comprehension.
FILE – Tourists walk along boardwalks in Upper Geyser Basin on June 22, 2022, in Yellowstone National Park, Wyo. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)
However, I also witnessed much still in dire need of care and repair, such as the boardwalks in Yellowstone National Park. These boardwalks not only allow visitors to view the wealth of thermal features, but keep onlookers safe from the hot, acidic water. They also keep these fragile, incredible geysers and springs safe from tourist interference. The national park system is full of vital infrastructure designed to protect both creation and those who enjoy it, and we must continue to care for it. While the Great American Outdoors Act investments have produced five years of success stories, there is still much more work needed to be done, underscoring the urgency to reauthorize this important effort for another five years.
Our national parks are incredible places, though they remain challenging to get to for many folks and often require significant resources to visit. This is yet another reason why caring for all of God’s creation — and improving accessibility — is so vital. The GAOA not only focused on national parks, but it permanently reauthorized the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) for $900 million annually to support local parks and communities so that more people can spend time outside and have access to outdoor recreation opportunities outside of large national parks. This funding also includes support for the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership program, a grant program designed to address the recreational gap in underserved urban areas. The anniversary of the GAOA is not only a chance to reflect on national parks, but a chance to celebrate efforts — and renew our commitment to — advance equity in the outdoors in our local communities as well.
Fortunately, earlier this year, members of Congress introduced a bill, America the Beautiful Act, that will continue and expand this critical funding until 2033. With bipartisan support, America the Beautiful has hope of being passed, but it is currently under review by the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Now is the time to contact your representatives and express your support for America’s parks to be well-funded, well-staffed and well-maintained for years to come.
As we savor the final days of summer, I invite you to have your own experiences out in God’s creation — in our national, state and local parks or wherever you find yourself — and to commit and recommit to caring for these special, incredible places where God’s handiwork is on display around every corner. This is a calling for all Americans, and especially for evangelical Christians striving to live out our biblical calling to love our neighbors and steward God’s creation.
(Tori Goebel serves as the chief operating officer for the Evangelical Environmental Network. She was born, raised and currently lives in New England. The views expressed in this commentary do not necessarily reflect those of Religion News Service.)
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