John,
We’re facing a dire situation in Zion National Park. Fortunately, there's a way you can help.
Within Zion’s boundaries, there are a number of privately owned properties. Taken together, they total about 3,300 acres — a full two percent of the park’s land. And because they’re privately owned, what happens there is out of the Park Service’s control. They could be — and have been — closed to public access, or they could be — and have been — developed at literally any time.
Imagine hiking one of Zion’s incredible scenic trails and coming face to face with a NO TRESPASSING sign. Or making your way to the crest of a hill, gazing out at the surrounding landscape, and being confronted by a pair of trophy houses. Or a garish hotel.
The support of our members enabled several victories in and around Zion. Last year, we purchased a 35-acre parcel of land known as Firepit Knoll and donated it to the National Park Service. We also protected a total of 40 acres at the base of the world-famous Tabernacle Dome, and we protected Chamberlain Ranch, which is actually outside the park’s boundary but contains the trailhead to one of Zion’s most popular trails — which is on many a hiker’s bucket list.
Thanks to our members, this land will never be developed, and visitors will have uninterrupted views of the stunning Zion wilderness for years, decades, and generations to come.
But as I said, there are still 3,300 acres inside Zion that are at risk of development. What’s more, 9 million acres of public land throughout the West are inaccessible to the public because they are surrounded by private properties.
Your gift today in honor of Zion will help keep public land open to the public; lead ballot initiatives that advance the preservation of wild places, open spaces, and historic treasures; design and renovate parks, gardens, playgrounds, and natural areas to meet their communities’ needs; and so much more.
You don’t want land inside national parks to be stripped of its natural resources, endangered species to be driven out of their habitats, or the vistas enjoyed by millions of visitors to be dominated by incompatible development. John, take a moment now and make a gift to The Trust for Public Land. There is so much we have to do in Zion and for the lands that are at risk all across America … but we can’t do it without you.
Sincerely,
Kim Elliot
Director of Membership
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