As America Approaches 250th Anniversary New National Polling Shows Overwhelming Support for Parks as Essential to National Identity 

Trust For Public Land Issues Report Highlighting the Role of Parks in Telling the Full American Story 

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — As the United States prepares to mark its 250th anniversary, Trust for Public Land (TPL) released a report and national polling  today that underscores the vital role parks and public lands play in shaping community identity, preserving history, and fostering national pride. 

“At a moment when our country faces division, parks and public lands remain a unifying force—places where people and communities come together, history is remembered, and our shared story is made tangible,” said Dr. Carrie Besnette Hauser, the president and CEO of TPL. “As we reflect on America’s 250th anniversary, these spaces remind us of who we are and who we can become.” 

According to new YouGov polling of 4,000 U.S. adults, an overwhelming majority of Americans—across geographies and political affiliations—see outdoor public spaces as central to who we are as a nation: 

• 88% agree it is important to preserve historical and cultural landmarks in outdoor spaces that tell the full American story—including difficult histories such as slavery and the mistreatment of Native Americans 

• 85% agree that national parks, public lands, and natural landscapes are something they are proud of about the United States today 

• 83% agree that outdoor public spaces are one of the most important elements of their community’s identity 

• 75% say they want parks and public spaces to do more to reflect shared history and culture through signage, programming, and interpretation 

The report was released in advance of the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States offering an opportunity to renew appreciation for the nation’s history, landscapes and vital public places. Trust for Public Land believes this milestone must also be a moment to ensure that America’s story is told fully and truthfully in the places where people gather. 

That commitment extends beyond individual sites to national efforts that preserve and interpret the stories that have shaped the country. Earlier this month, TPL joined the National Trust for Historic Preservation in commending the introduction of bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the African American Civil Rights Network, a National Park Service program connecting more than 130 historic sites, museums, educational programs, and landmarks associated with the modern Civil Rights Movement. 

“Public lands, parks, and public spaces are where history becomes real and comes to life,” said Dr. Jocelyn Imani, TPL’s Director of Black History and Culture. “They are where every community can see themselves reflected in the American story. Preserving that story in its fullness is not only truthful – it is the American story.” 

As America approaches its 250th anniversary, the Network serves as a powerful example of how parks, historic places, and public lands help tell the full American story – ensuring that the people, events, and movements that advanced equality and justice remain visible, accessible, and understood by future generations. The effort reflects the strong public support found in TPL’s new polling, which shows that nearly nine in ten Americans believe it is important to preserve historical and cultural landmarks that tell the full American story. 

The new polling also reflects a growing public desire for parks to do more in telling community stories. Three in four Americans say they want expanded interpretation—such as signage, events, and interactive experiences—that bring local history and culture to life. This comes at a time when the preservation and interpretation of history is increasingly contested.

“This work is not about politics; it is about people. It is about ensuring that every community can see themselves reflected in these places that tell our nation’s story. And it allows us to see ourselves in one another,” continued Besnette Hauser. “Protecting these spaces strengthens humanity, human understanding, empathy, and connection.” 

Earlier this year, TPL and the National Park Service announced the expansion of Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park with the addition of the historic Prince Hall Masonic Lodge and Temple (the Lodge). The announcement is the second completed project from TPL’s Alliance for Civil Rights Historic Sites program, building upon the opening of the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument in 2023. Through the Alliance, TPL formally partners with NPS and others to activate and open Black historic sites in the South. The Alliance is part of TPL’s Black History and Culture Initiative, which has combined national resources with the expertise of local partners, to advance a growing movement of organizations, funders, philanthropists, and communities to recognize and put more sites on the map that preserve Black history and culture. 

For more than 50 years, TPL has partnered with communities to protect lands that reflect the nation’s ongoing pursuit of freedom and opportunity. Working alongside more than 70 Tribal Nations and Indigenous communities—and in partnership with Black, LGBTQ+, and other community leaders—TPL has helped preserve places that carry the depth and complexity of the American experience. From iconic civil rights landmarks to culturally significant landscapes, these efforts ensure that the stories shaping the nation remain visible, accessible, and alive for future generations. 

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About Trust for Public Land:  

Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national nonprofit that works to connect everyone to the benefits and joys of the outdoors. As a leader in equitable access to the outdoors, TPL works with communities to create parks and protect public land where they are needed most. Since 1972, TPL has protected more than 4 million acres of public land, created more than 5,500 parks, trails, schoolyards, and iconic outdoor places, raised $112 billion in public funding for parks and public lands, and connected nearly 10 million people to the outdoors. To learn more, visit www.tpl.org