The National Park Service is celebrating National Public Lands Day on Sept. 26 with FREE admission to all national parks and events including a virtual concert featuring popular parks including Joshua Tree National Park and Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens.
Following the 10am concert, the sites will host virtual environmental education and conservation events about topics such as health and wellness, career opportunities in conservation and diversity and inclusion in the outdoors.
National Public Lands Day (NPLD) is the largest annual celebration of the great outdoors, with a long list of events, and while most are virtual this year, there are plenty of on-site events.
Volunteers will build trails, clean waterways, remove invasive non-native species and restore native landscapes at sites, including at:
- Arches National Park, Utah
- Buffalo National River, Arkansas
- Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, Maine
- Pipestone National Monument, Minnesota
- Sitka National Historical Park. Alaska
Established by the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) in 1994, NPLD encourages environmental stewardship and the use of public lands for education, recreation, inspiration and general health and wellness.
More information about the concert and corresponding events is available on NEEF’s website.
“National Public Lands Day is one of my favorite annual recognitions, as across the country I witness people sharing my passion for the outdoors. This year the importance of our parks and open spaces is even more pronounced as they are recognized as safe spaces to recreate, relax and rejuvenate,” said Margaret Everson, Counselor to the Secretary, exercising the delegated authority of the National Park Service Director.
“National parks and other public lands provide all of us with places to enjoy the great outdoors. Congress’ passage and President Trump’s recent signing of the Great American Outdoors Act will ensure that these important resources are protected and enhanced for current and future generations.”
All national parks will waive entrance fees on September 26 to provide additional opportunities for us to spend some time outdoors.
Note this applies only to entrance fees, not to parking or other fees.
Even a small dose of nature can provide a mood boost and support overall physical and mental well-being.
Begin a trip to a national park with a visit to NPS.gov to obtain updates regarding park operating status and tips about how to #RecreateResponsibly.
NPLD is coordinated by NEEF in cooperation with the Department of the Interior, Department of the Army, and Department of Agriculture. Participating federal agencies include the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
About the National Park Service
More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 419 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities.
Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
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