Conserving Views

Rare solitude at Mesa Arch during a spring sunrise as clouds and fog lifted to reveal fresh snow on the arch and the spectacular canyon below.

NPS / Jeremy White

Park scenic views – we know them, we love them, and we expect them to be around forever! Some of the nation’s most spectacular and historically significant landscapes are entrusted to the NPS and we are working hard to understand and conserve them.

Landscapes in and around parks are changing. These changes can threaten scenic views. Some changes are natural (like forest fires and vegetation growth) while others are human caused (like industrial and community developments).

In order to manage scenic views in a thoughtful and responsible way we need to:

• Inventory: document and understand the quality of park views and the values that make them important.
• Implement best practices: design tools can help park projects blend in the landscape.
• Plan and manage: decision-making is critical for conserving park views for current and future generations.
• Collaborate: working with neighbors and stakeholders is key to successfully conserving park views into the future.

If you live near a park there may be actions you can take to help conserve views in parks! Even if you don’t, there are things you can likely do to support scenic views in parks and conserve scenic views in your community. Learn more about what you can do.