A few weeks ago I shared a podium in Brooklyn with a group of ten landscape designers--none of them over five feet tall. But in describing their work, these fifth graders from P.S./M.S. 394 in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn were all business.

They were there to open...

The Ken Burns documentary series beginning Sunday evening on PBS bills our national parks as "America's best idea," a phrase borrowed from author Wallace Stegner. But lost in the excitement about the series may be the understanding that this "best idea" is not complete.

Our national parks are a remarkable...

So what are you doing on September 26? That is the date of National Public Lands Day and as in years past, more than 100,000 Americans will be volunteering at thousands of public parks, forests, and wildlife refuges. They will be pulling weeds, building trails, hauling trash, and generally doing...

Last month, my family and I spent part of our vacation in the Colorado Rockies, hiking on public lands that are collectively owned by all of us. Every time I get the chance to enjoy the places we all own together, I am thankful for a farsighted decision made almost...

Parks are always important and even more important in tough economic times. A new poll points to increasing demand for parks and playgrounds during the current recession, underscoring the importance of parks to families, cities, and human health. While logic might dictate that park funding should be cut in hard...