110 years ago on August 25, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed the Organic Act, creating National Park Service and its mission: to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations. In honor of this significant milestone for our public lands, here are seven important facts about the National Park Service (NPS) and how they pertain to Hispanic/ Latino communities.
1. The Civil Service: These people educate visitors, protect public safety, support wildlife, and help you recreate with care in our national parks. Hispanic/ Latino civil servants hold only 7.4 percent of superintendent and deputy superintendent positions, and make up 5.6 percent of the general national park workforce*, despite composing 21 percent of the U.S. population today. MAGA politicians gutted 25% of permanent National Park Service workers (over 4,000 civil servants) since January 2025; a majority from western states. Most voters across western states are concerned about fewer park rangers, especially in Colorado and New Mexico. 88 percent of Hispanic/ Latino voters said they are concerned, and are the most concerned among racial/ ethnic groups.
2. George Meléndez Wright: Became the first Latino National Park Service employee (of El Salvadoran heritage) in 1927 as an Assistant Park Naturalist at Yosemite. At 24 years of age, he conducted the park service's first wildlife inventory and later established the National Park Service Wildlife Division. Meléndez Wright was later appointed by President F.D. Roosevelt to lead the Natural Resources Board in 1934 to integrate biology, zoology and more biological sciences in Parks across the country while researching areas that would ultimately become national parks, like the Everglades in Florida and Big Bend in Texas. Yosemite National Park STILL lacks exhibits, signage, or other memorials commemorating his achievements.
3. San Juan National Historical Site: Preserves over 500 years of history in San Juan, PR at Castillo San Felipe del Morro & Castillo San Cristóbal. This coastal park provides essential green space in a dense urban area, ensuring equal public access to nature, ocean air, and outdoor recreation. Did you know that the Park Service's most recent Comprehensive Survey of
the American Public excluded participants in Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, Guam and U.S. Virgin Islands even though there are national parks in these territories? There are also educational materials targeted for removal at the official bookstore, including a book on Taino history.
4. Stewardship & Education: The park service provides online enrichment! From wildlife live streams, to educational videos & podcasts, most of us are just a click away from learning more about the history, culture, and ecosystems our national parks steward. The National Park Service also has programs for schools & teachers to engage students in place-based learning that promotes stewardship. A nationwide assessment of awareness about US national parks found that Hispanics & Latinos are the strongest supporters of these educational resources and other elements of national park stewardship, even while Hispanics & Latinos made up only 11.8% of national park visitors in 2018.
5. Chicano Park: The National Park Service provides resources for the National Register of Historic Places and National Historic Landmarks, including Chicano Park in Barrio Logan, San Diego, CA. Chicano Park was listed on the Register in 2013 and became a Landmark in 2017. Its management is governed by local leaders, and the National Park Service ensures the site is documented as a vital part of the nation's civil rights and cultural history. Chicano Park protects murals, recreation opportunities, and provides guided tours, youth programs, and free wifi to the public. A community based-organization operates the Park museum, and locals participate in Park vegetation and mural management. Josie Talamantez and Dr. Alberto Pulido are two among many neighborhood leaders involved in the stewardship of Chicano Park since the community’s fight for a park over a Highway Patrol parking lot in 1970.
6. Chaco Culture National Historical Park: This site protects a thriving hub for Ancestral Puebloans from 850 to 1250 CE in northeastern NM. A study of pottery sherds found that liquid, ritual cacao was consumed at Pueblo Bonito between 1000 and 1125 AD. This indicates a significant relationship between Ancestral Puebloans and Mesoamericans from the tropics of México and Central America, making this national park a reminder that our Latino ancestors have been a part of life on the Colorado Plateau since time immemorial. At Chaco Culture National Park is an incredible opportunity to commemorate the astonishing feats of pre-Columbian long-distance travel and cultural exchange. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposes to remove the 20 year mineral withdrawal in Greater Chaco; GreenLatinos has commented numerous times in support of retaining these protections from fossil fuel destruction and opposes BLM’s plan. 71 percent of western voters overall, and 66 percent of Hispanic/ Latino voters, oppose removing protections from new oil and gas drilling in the Greater Chaco Region surrounding Chaco Culture National Historic Park.
7. National Park Entrance Fees: Did you know that U.S. military members, people with disabilities, and 4th graders can receive an America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass for free? Seniors are also eligible for discounted passes. The Trump Administration shamefully ripped away fee-free entrance days on nationally significant days such as Juneteenth and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Sign our petition for National Park Passes to be gifted to newly naturalized citizens, and swearing-in ceremonies to be hosted on our public lands.
For the rest of the year, GreenLatinos is uplifting beloved national parks in our communities and the people who enjoy them with us in honor of the 110th anniversary of the National Park Service. Tell a story about your favorite national park memory (or one that’s important to you) and what you want for this place in the next 250 years. Make a difference with us by sending a:
- 1 minute video or
- 1 minute voice memo or
- Short written story
TELL YOUR STORY WITH OUR PARKS, OUR MONUMENTS, OUR STORIES
*Most recent National Park Service civil service composition data is from 2020 and may vary significantly today, since President Trump and Elon Musk DOGEd the NPS workforce.
