Most people have fond memories of family vacations: camping in
the woods, picnicking at the lake, or hiking in the mountains. Even though I grew up in the city, I remember
our family trips to the mountains, and how peaceful it was to get away from everyday life. For millions of people, nature becomes a
place where we can retreat from the haphazard development of the urban
environment and take the time to relax. I
have always advocated a strong relationship between people and nature, but it
wasn't until I started working for the National Park Service (NPS) that I truly
understood the philosophy and development behind upholding that
relationship. I was unaware of how much
time and effort was, and continues to be, invested into making sure these natural places are “preserved
for future generations”. I have spent
the nearly four years trying to comprehend the principles and purpose of the
NPS and its role in fostering a healthy relationship between people and nature. In this thesis I hope to explore characteristics
of the NPS, examining both positive and negative aspects of visitor use in
National Parks.
The primary aspect of visitor use I will be focusing on is the
role scenic vistas play in the visitor experience. People travel all over the world to see
iconic landscapes, and reflect the splendor and majesty of nature. Early naturalists, scientists, writers, and politicians
recognized nature’s regenerative power and worked toward protecting American
landscapes and natural areas. Today,
many of these iconic landscapes are still protected as National Parks; such as
magnificent Yosemite Valley, the sequoia trees of Mariposa Grove, and the wetlands
of the Everglades. Great Smoky Mountains
is the most visited national park, receiving an estimated 9.2 million visitors
a year. A study in 2008 revealed that 46
percent of its visitors value viewing scenery or taking a scenic drive as the
most important activity while visiting the Park. The scenic views within Great Smoky Mountains
National Park showcase a diverse arrangement of wildlife and cultural remnants
of people and communities who called this land home. In this blog I hope to explore elements of
vistas, such as visual quality and variety of scenery, to develop
recommendations on how the NPS can preserve nature and still maintain scenic
vistas for visitor use.
