Parks
Our national parks do not exist to help companies make money. Rather, they exist for our enjoyment and edification, and to preserve their contents for future generations.
Parks should be free from the marketing that assails us in our daily lives. We go to parks for respite, not for further bombardment by marketers.
The National Park Service is proposing to solicit corporations to sponsor our national parks, and to allow corporations to feature that sponsorship in their public relations or advertising campaigns. (Consider the prospect of ads for "Preparation H, the Official Sponsor of the Grand Canyon," or "Nexium, the Official Sponsor of Lassen Volcanic National Park.")
Click here to tell the National Park Service not to commercialize our national parks.
More Information
News Releases
Coalition Asks NYC Mayor Bloomberg Not to Sell Naming Rights to City Parks
Gary Ruskin | February 21st, 2002
Articles
Protect Our National Parks from Corporate Corruption
Gary Ruskin | November 30th, 2005
Related Articles and Links
Related Articles
Thumb down: Florida lawmakers should reject proposal to sell naming rights for school cafeterias, ad
Editorial | TCPalm | January 30th, 2012
Bill would allow Florida to sell naming rights to state-owned facilities
Kathleen McGrory | Miami Herald | January 23rd, 2012
Bill to OK sale of naming rights for state trails passes through committee
Bruce Ritchie | The Current | January 12th, 2012
Villaraigosa adviser urges council committee to allow ads at city parks, zoo
Dakota Smith | Contra Costa Times | December 6th, 2011
Billboards and parks don't mix
Editorial | Los Angeles Times | December 5th, 2011
Parks Department revives plan to sell naming rights
Yolanne Almanzar | The New York World | November 28th, 2011
Parks Chief Blocked Plan for Grand Canyon Bottle Ban
FELICITY BARRINGER | The New York Times | November 10th, 2011
Could ads be coming to state parks?
FOX Orlando | September 29th, 2011
Not "Wal-Mart State Park," But Close
NBC San Diego | September 29th, 2011
Why Coke, Juicy Juice, Odwalla Are Taking a Walk in the Woods
Advertising Age | February 17th, 2011
Name That Dog Park: Suffolk Courts Deals for Cash
Annie Correal | The New York Times | March 18th, 2009
Suffolk Plan to Sell Naming Rights at County Parks
Rick Brand | Newsday | March 8th, 2009
Private Companies as Park Sponsors? State Is Already Advertising Idea
Warren Cornwall | Seattle Times | September 15th, 2006
Park Service Keeps Ban on Most Ads
John Heilprin | Associated Press | May 2nd, 2006
Suffolk May Sell Naming Rights
Emi Endo | Newsday | February 23rd, 2006
Commercialization Of The Mall
U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman | September 15th, 2003
Desecration of the Mall
Albert Eisele | The Hill | September 10th, 2003
America, Brought To You by . .
Tom Shales | Washington Post | September 5th, 2003
On the Mall, Kickoff Live is Mixing Cola, Concerts and Controversy
David Montgomery | Washington Post | September 1st, 2003
Waldenbooks Woods? State Mulls Selling Naming Rights
Ken Maguire | Associated Press | May 9th, 2003
Nike Putting New Spring in Old Courts
John Killen | Oregonian | June 21st, 2002
External Links
National Parks to Seek Corporate Sponsorships
Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility |
Director's Order #21: Donations and Fundraising
National Park Service |