    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 133, 116th Congress, 1st Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    Proclamation 9864 of April 19, 2019

    National Park Week, 2019

    By the President of the United States of America

    A Proclamation

    Our National Parks System is a stunning tribute to our country's
    history, traditions, and heritage. Since the creation of Yellowstone
    National Park in 1872 by an Act of Congress, countless Americans have
    experienced the majesty, the wonder, the adventure, and the history of
    our national parks. Many leave with a deepened appreciation for the
    beauty of nature, the history of our country, and their place in the
    universe. During National Park Week, we celebrate our national parks and
    marvel with appreciation at the splendor of our Nation's landscapes and
    landmarks.
    From sea to shining sea, America offers a vast array of national parks
    and monuments for the public to enjoy. The National Parks System
    includes 419 areas that cover more than 85 million acres. Each location
    is unique, offering a window into a particular chapter of the Nation's
    history, a lofty view from a mountaintop, or a fleeting glimpse of
    rarely seen wildlife. From the gorges of Yosemite to the fountains of
    the World War II Memorial, these sites provide millions of visitors each
    year with places of remembrance, reflection, and recreation. There is a
    park for each of our Nation's adventurers, no matter their age or
    interests.
    We must give our parks special care and attention to preserve them and
    the special natural and cultural sites they contain. In recent years,
    however, many roads, buildings, utility systems, and other
    infrastructure systems in our national parks have not received important
    repairs or maintenance, creating a backlog of postponed work projects
    that totals nearly $12 billion. My Administration is committed to
    working with the Congress to significantly reduce this backlog,
    including through the establishment of a Public Lands Infrastructure
    Fund. In addition, through public-private partnerships, we are bringing
    together

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    leaders from across the country to improve the management of our public
    lands. By working across government and with the private sector, we can
    preserve our parks for generations to come, and provide Americans with
    more opportunities to experience our country's exhilarating mountain
    peaks, calming valleys, scenic vistas, sprawling forests, and compelling
    historic cultural sites.
    Laying the cornerstone for the gateway to Yellowstone National Park in
    1903, President Theodore Roosevelt observed: ``The essential feature in
    the present management of Yellowstone Park, as in all similar places, is
    its essential democracy--it is the preservation of the scenery, of the
    forests, of the wilderness life and the wilderness game for the people
    as a whole.'' A century later, Teddy's vision for our national parks
    endures. As we observe National Park Week, I encourage Americans to take
    advantage of the accessibility of our national parks and to get outside
    and experience these magnificent natural and historic treasures.
    NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of
    America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
    the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 20 through April
    28, 2019, as National Park Week. I encourage all Americans to celebrate
    by visiting our national parks and learning more about the natural,
    cultural, and historical heritage that belongs to each and every citizen
    of the United States of America.
    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this nineteenth day of
    April, in the year of our Lord two thousand nineteen, and of the
    Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-
    third.
    DONALD J. TRUMP