04-28-2025

National Park Week, 2025

ProclamationView the Original .pdf
View the Original .pdf

The 1-Minute Brief

What: A presidential proclamation designating April 19 through April 27, 2025, as National Park Week. The proclamation encourages Americans to celebrate national parks and highlights commemorative events, particularly the 250th anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord.

Money: There is no direct appropriation of new funds. However, to kick off the celebration, entrance fees to all national parks will be waived on April 19, 2025.

Your Impact: You can visit any national park in the United States for free on April 19, 2025. The week will also feature special events and educational programs at various park locations.

Status: Proclaimed by the President on April 23, 2025, and scheduled for publication in the Federal Register.

What's Actually in the Bill

This presidential proclamation officially designates the nine-day period from April 19 to April 27, 2025, as National Park Week. It serves as a call to the nation to celebrate and learn about the country's natural and historical heritage preserved within the more than 400 sites managed by the National Park Service.

Core Provisions:

  • Designates April 19-27, 2025, as National Park Week.
  • Kicks off the week with a commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord at Minute Man National Historical Park.
  • Highlights the administration's actions, including the creation of a "National Garden of American Heroes" and promoting history education via the White House Task Force on Celebrating America's 250th Birthday.
  • References the restoration of "names to our parks that honor American greatness -- including returning Mount McKinley to its rightful name."
  • Encourages all citizens to learn more about the national parks.

Stated Purpose (from the Sponsors):

The proclamation states its purpose is to celebrate the beauty and history of national parks and to renew the nation's pledge to protect these "magnificent symbols of American greatness" for future generations.

  1. To celebrate the majestic beauty and rich history preserved within our national parks.
  2. To recall the bravery of the patriots of the American Revolutionary War.
  3. To promote an education that teaches love of country and honors American history.
  4. To ensure the parks "remain breathtaking for our children and grandchildren."

Key Facts:

Affected Sectors: Tourism, Recreation, Environmental Conservation, Education.
Timeline: The designated week is April 19-27, 2025. The kickoff event commemorating the Battles of Lexington and Concord is on April 19, 2025.
Scope: Nationwide, affecting all 433 national park sites in the United States and its territories.

The Backstory: How We Got Here

Timeline of Events:

The Conservation Movement (1872-Present):

The foundation of the national park system was laid in 1872 with the establishment of Yellowstone as the world's first national park. This marked the beginning of a proud American tradition of preserving significant natural and historical sites. The National Park Service (NPS) was created in 1916 to manage these sites. The first National Park Week was proclaimed by President George H.W. Bush in 1991 to honor the 75th anniversary of the NPS.

The "History Wars" (1990s-Present):

Recent decades have seen ongoing debates over how American history is taught and commemorated. The proclamation's emphasis on honoring "American greatness" and the creation of a "National Garden of American Heroes" fits into this larger context. This initiative was first proposed by President Trump in 2020 and revived via executive order in 2025. It calls for a statuary park of 250 American figures to be completed for the nation's 250th birthday in 2026.

The Renaming of Mount McKinley (2015-2025):

The proclamation's mention of returning Mount McKinley to its "rightful name" refers to a contentious issue. In 2015, the Obama administration officially renamed the mountain Denali, its long-standing Athabascan name, a move celebrated by Alaskans but criticized by Ohio lawmakers as President William McKinley was an Ohio native. The proclamation signals an intent to reverse this decision.

Why Now? The Political Calculus:

  • America's 250th Anniversary: The proclamation is timed to coincide with the beginning of major commemorations for the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, starting with the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord.
  • Symbolic Actions: The proclamation serves as a vehicle to highlight the administration's cultural and historical priorities, such as the National Garden of American Heroes and the renaming of Denali. These actions appeal to a political base focused on traditional interpretations of American history and patriotism.
  • Annual Tradition: Issuing a proclamation for National Park Week is a routine, annual presidential action used to promote tourism and appreciation for the park system.

Your Real-World Impact

The Direct Answer: This proclamation directly affects park visitors and the tourism industry, while its policy mentions have broader cultural implications.

What Could Change for You:

Potential Benefits:

  • Free Park Day: You can visit any national park, including those that normally charge, for free on Saturday, April 19, 2025.
  • Special Events: Parks across the country will host special programs, including Junior Ranger Day for children and volunteer opportunities, throughout the week.
  • Educational Opportunities: The focus on the 250th anniversary will provide unique historical programming at sites like Minute Man National Historical Park.

Possible Disruptions or Costs:

Short-term (April 2025):

  • Increased Crowds: The free admission day and special events may lead to larger crowds and more traffic at popular national parks.

Long-term:

  • Changes in Place Names: The proposed renaming of Denali back to Mount McKinley could lead to changes in maps, signs, and educational materials.
  • New National Monuments: The creation of the National Garden of American Heroes would establish a new, federally funded monument site.

Who's Most Affected:

Primary Groups: Tourists, families, outdoor enthusiasts, K-12 students, and educators.
Secondary Groups: Local businesses near national parks, historians, and cultural groups (including Alaska Natives affected by the Denali/McKinley name dispute).
Regional Impact: Middlesex County, Massachusetts, will experience a significant influx of visitors for the 250th anniversary events. Alaska will be the focal point of the Denali name change debate.

Bottom Line: For most Americans, this proclamation means a chance to visit a national park for free; for others, its underlying policy statements signal significant shifts in how American history and land are commemorated.

Where the Parties Stand

Republican Position: "Honoring American Greatness"

Core Stance: Generally supportive of national parks for recreation and as symbols of national heritage, while often advocating for more local control and economic use of federal lands.

Their Arguments:

  • ✓ Support promoting national parks as treasures that represent American culture and history.
  • ✓ Advocate for historical commemorations that emphasize patriotism and "American greatness."
  • ⚠️ Propose budget cuts to the National Park Service to fund other priorities, while also seeking to reduce the agency's maintenance backlog.
  • ✗ Oppose what they view as politically motivated name changes of historical sites, such as the renaming of Mount McKinley to Denali. Some members have also sought to limit the President's authority to create new national monuments under the Antiquities Act.

Legislative Strategy: Generally support proclamations like this while using budget and oversight powers to align park management with their policy goals, which may include promoting resource extraction on some federal lands and privatizing some park services.

Democratic Position: "Conservation and Collaborative Stewardship"

Core Stance: Strongly support robust federal funding for the National Park Service to protect natural resources, address the maintenance backlog, and expand conservation efforts.

Their Arguments:

  • ✓ Support free park days and programs that increase access for all Americans.
  • ✓ Emphasize protecting ecosystems, wildlife, and sites that tell diverse stories, including those of Indigenous peoples.
  • ⚠️ Express concern over budget cuts to the NPS and attempts to politicize the management of parks and historical sites.
  • ✗ Strongly oppose the sale of public lands and efforts to weaken environmental protections or the Endangered Species Act. They supported the official renaming of Mount McKinley to Denali.

Legislative Strategy: Advocate for increased appropriations for the NPS and the Land and Water Conservation Fund, defend the Antiquities Act, and push for policies that address climate change's impact on parks.

Constitutional Check

The Verdict: ✓ Constitutional

Basis of Authority:

Presidential proclamations are an implied power of the President under Article II of the Constitution. They are considered a form of direct presidential action.

Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution: "The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America."
Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution: "[The President] shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed..."

Constitutional Implications:

[Executive Power]: The proclamation itself is largely ceremonial and does not have the force of law unless it triggers a specific authority granted by Congress. Presidents have issued such proclamations since George Washington.
[Precedent]: Proclaiming special weeks or observances is a long-standing and undisputed presidential tradition. However, substantive policy changes mentioned within the proclamation, such as renaming mountains or creating monuments, rely on other specific statutes (like the Antiquities Act) or executive orders, which can be, and have been, subject to legal and political challenges.
[Federalism]: The proclamation deals with federal lands (National Parks) and does not overstep into powers reserved for the states.

Potential Legal Challenges:

The proclamation itself is unlikely to face legal challenges. However, the specific policy actions it references could be challenged:

  • Renaming Denali: A reversal of the 2015 decision to rename Mount McKinley to Denali would likely be done through a secretarial order from the Department of the Interior, which could face lawsuits from environmental groups, Alaska Native corporations, or the state of Alaska itself, arguing the decision is arbitrary and politically motivated.
  • National Garden of American Heroes: While the President can propose monuments, establishing a new National Park Service site and securing the $40 million in appropriated funds mentioned in related legislation would require Congressional action.

Your Action Options

TO SUPPORT THIS PROCLAMATION'S POLICIES

5-Minute Actions:

  • Call Your Rep/Senators: Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121 "I'm a constituent from [Your City/Town] and I support the President's efforts to honor American history, including the creation of the National Garden of American Heroes and restoring the name of Mount McKinley. I urge [Rep./Sen. Name] to support these initiatives."

30-Minute Deep Dive:

  • Write a Detailed Email: Contact your elected officials and members of the House Natural Resources and Senate Energy & Natural Resources committees to express support for the specific historical and commemorative policies mentioned.
  • Visit a National Park: Participate in National Park Week from April 19-27, 2025, and share your positive experiences on social media.

TO OPPOSE THIS PROCLAMATION'S POLICIES

5-Minute Actions:

  • Call Your Rep/Senators: Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121 "I'm a constituent from [Your City/Town] and I urge [Rep./Sen. Name] to oppose the reversal of the Denali name change and to ensure robust, non-partisan funding for the National Park Service."

30-Minute Deep Dive:

  • Write a Letter to the Editor: Submit a letter to your local newspaper expressing your views on federal land management, the importance of the name Denali, or the need to focus park funding on maintenance and conservation rather than new monuments.
  • Join an Organization: A wide range of organizations advocate for national parks and conservation, such as the National Parks Conservation Association, The Wilderness Society, or local "Friends of" park groups.