In moments of uncertainty, our values guide us. Like you, I’m following the news closely. Right now, America’s public lands and outdoor spaces—the places where we find solace, inspiration, hope, and connection—are facing challenges unlike any we’ve seen in generations. Rapid federal policy shifts, threats to funding, and mass layoffs and firings are putting countless critical conservation and community projects at risk.
Against this backdrop, I want to reassure you that Trust for Public Land remains focused on its mission. We remain grounded and guided by unwavering commitments to equity, health, community, and climate. We’re working harder than ever to expand access to the outdoors, protect the places that shape our shared history, and ensure every person—regardless of zip code—can experience the power of nature.
Trust for Public Land has more than 100 active projects impacted by current federal policy changes—from Clifton Hills Alton Park Thread Trail in Chattanooga, Tennessee to the Madras Elementary Schoolyard in rural Oregon—and the conservation of more than 10,000 acres of working forest in Northern Idaho. Each project is unique, collaboratively developed and beloved by the communities they serve. We remain steadfast in our commitment to these partnerships.
We also know that behind every local park, trail, or forest are people—park rangers, wildlife managers, educators, and community and tribal leaders—who dedicate their lives to conserving and stewarding these lands. Their work is vital. Our parks and public lands need their passion, expertise, and skill. We stand with those on the front lines, who welcome us and protect these important spaces.
For more than 50 years, spanning 25 sessions of Congress and nine administrations, TPL has delivered real results. We have always believed in facts over rhetoric, partnerships over partisanship, and action over apathy. Each of the more than 5,000 outdoor spaces we’ve created since 1972 has demanded creativity, out-of-the-box thinking, and partnerships with local communities to identify what they need and how to make it happen.
We will continue to fight for the funding, resources, and policies vital to keep these places open, protected, and accessible, and we will honor the cultural and historical significance that binds people to the landscapes they cherish.
This work is personal to me, just as it is to you and to people across our country. Together, we’re building a future where everyone has access to the outdoors and where nature continues to be a source of strength, joy, and belonging for everyone. We know this moment requires our full attention and collective action. Your support, voice, and passion make this work possible.
Thank you for standing with us and FOR the outdoors.
With gratitude,
