Sierra Club hosts national parks program

History, diversity, problems, failures explored Englewood, N.J. — Our national parks provide sanctuary for everyone to experience the immeasurable beauty and diversity of undisturbed nature. The legacy of far-sighted 19th century conservationists, they are a uniquely American contribution to the democratic idea. In anticipation of this fall’s broadcast of Ken Burns’ new documentary, the North Jersey Sierra Club is hosting a program about America’s beloved parks on Thursday, Sept. 24. John Kashwick of the Sierra Club National Parks and Monuments Committee will make an audiovisual presentation, with slides showing views of 32 of the 58 national parks and many other units in the National Park System (all places he’s visited). Kashwick will give a brief history of the creation of national parks, beginning with Yellowstone in 1872 and highlighting the involvement of Sierra Club founder John Muir and others. He will also discuss some specific problems now facing the parks, such as pressures for commercial activities, external encroachment from sprawl, failures to protect resources as in the case of Yosemite’s Hetch Hetchy Valley, and climate change. The program will clarify the differences in park system units (parks, monuments, preserves, reserves, seashores, wild and scenic rivers, etc.) and cover recent designations including the Great Falls National Historical Park in Paterson, the future of the park system, and new park proposals being considered. Kashwick will also offer tips on how to organize to establish or expand a park. Besides being a volunteer with the national Sierra Club, Kashwick is the Utah Issues coordinator for the Club’s New Jersey Chapter and a North Jersey Group activist. He is also a councilman in Closter.