Dear Friend of the National Parks,

Like park lovers all across the country, I want to get out to visit my favorite places -- to recharge, to reset, to recover from some of the hardship of the last few months.

But first, there are some things I need to know:

- How will park visitors, staff and communities be kept safe from the coronavirus? How will staff get masks, gloves and other protective equipment?
- What happens if a COVID-19 outbreak is traced to a park? Will park staff be notified, tested and given medical leave?
- How will park staff keep visitors from gathering in large groups or from being funneled through bottlenecked trails, potentially exposing dozens or hundreds of others to infection?

It's long past time for answers. It's not enough to simply say that the parks should be open -- leaders in Washington need to make it happen by answering questions like these with a thorough, responsible plan that takes care of visitors, staff, neighboring communities... and the parks themselves.

Send a letter right now to Interior Secretary David Bernhardt and ask him how he plans to address the concerns of park advocates and communities in keeping staff and visitors safe... so we can all safely return to the national parks that belong to all of us.

A few weeks ago, I called for parks to close because keeping them open would have put staff, visitors and neighboring communities at risk. That risk hasn't gone away -- and it won't... not until Secretary Bernhardt comes up with a plan that answers key questions about protecting people during this extraordinary time.

Gateway communities that rely on parks for their economic survival cannot afford to have a COVID-19 outbreak during peak tourism season. They can't afford to have employees and family members get sick. They can't afford to have their hospitals filled with sick residents. They can't afford to worry that their parks are about to become the next COVID-19 hotspots.

And those of us who rely on parks for recreation and restoration can't afford to worry that an unknowingly infected visitor or an under-equipped park will put our families at risk either.

Friend, if 10,000 park advocates send letters to Secretary Bernhardt by the weekend, he'll know that we're eager to return to the parks -- the instant we know he has a plan that truly makes it safe for everyone.

Secretary Bernhardt owes it to park visitors and park staff to develop a thorough and responsible plan that puts safety first. Send a message now and demand answers!

Thank you for everything you do for our parks... and for the people who love them.

Sincerely,



Theresa Pierno
President and CEO